27 March 2009
The Presidency will hold a seminar on Monday to address harmful traditional
practices following reports of child abduction and forced marriages.
The Minister in the Presidency, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will on Monday
address a Seminar on Harmful Traditional Practices, following reports of child
abduction, forced and early marriages as part of "ukuthwala" tradition being
practiced in the Eastern Cape.
The seminar on Harmful Traditional Practices is a joint effort of the
government of South Africa and Austria, to end all forms of abuse against women
and children. The Austrian Ambassador to South Africa, O Ditz will attend the
seminar. The seminar will kick-start the process to establish a legal framework
on harmful traditional practices.
Members of the media are invited to the minister's address as follows:
Date: 30 March 2009
Time: 09h30
Venue: Premier Hotel, Church Street, Pretoria
Programme for the seminar on Harmful Traditional Practices
Getting a grip on Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) article 5
Programme director: Adv Thoko Majokweni
09h00-09h30: Tea and registration
09h30-09h40: Welcome and introductions
09h40-09h45: Introduction of Minister in The Presidency: Adv Joyce
Maluleke
09h45-10h00: Opening Remarks: Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Minister in The
Presidency
10h00-10h05: Introduction of the Ambassador: Ms Aloisia Woergetter
10h05-10h15: Remarks: Ambassador O Ditz, Austrian Embassy in Pretoria
10h15-10h25: Introduction of the Substitute Constitutional Judge in Austria:
Ambassador O Ditz
10h25-11h00: International Women's Rights and harmful traditional Practices â
establishing the legal framework: Justice Lillian Hofmeister
11h00-11h15: Tea and coffee break
11h15-11h30: Implementing CEDAW â the South African Perspective:
Commissioner Thuli Madonsela
11h30-12h00: Traditions vs Rights â a contradiction: National House of
Traditional Leaders: Khosi FP Kutama
12h00-12h30: What works? Voices of the Gender Machinery: Commission for Gender
Equality (CGE)
12h30-13h30: Lunch
13h30-14h30: Civil Society Perspective: GAP; Sonke Gender Justice, People
Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID)
14h30-15h15: Discussions and outcomes
15h15-15h30: Tea and coffee break
15h30-16h15: Discussions continued
16h15-16h30: Closing remarks: Minister in The Presidency
Enquiries:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: The Presidency
27 March 2009
