Department of Women reviews Women’s Emancipation and Gender Equality Works Towards 25-Year

Presidential Review Committee on Women’s Emancipation and Gender Equality Works Towards 25-Year Review

The Presidential Review Committee (PRC) on Women’s Emancipation and Gender Equality is progressing well in undertaking a 25-year review of women’s emancipation and gender equality in South Africa.

Launched in January 2019 following its appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the committee held its 4th meeting on 29 and 30 April 2019 and reported to the Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, on its progress.

The Committee has been meeting regularly to assess the progress in advancing women’s rights, empowerment, and development since 1994. Recognising that women and girls continue to suffer the negative impacts of persistent patriarchy, gender inequality, subjugation and discrimination the President appointed the Committee to undertake a comprehensive review to reflect on the progress made by the country.

The Committee will also look at the challenges that persist with respect to achieving women’s emancipation and gender equality, especially with regard to poverty and the terrible experiences of gender based violence and femicide.

Professor Viviene Taylor was appointed to Chair the PRC and together with 24 experts who have a wide range of knowledge, experience and commitment to women’s emancipation and gender equality over many decades, will conduct a strategic and systematic process to determine the conditions and challenges that must be addressed by government and key sectors in South Africa.

The Committee has met regularly to work through its terms of reference, establish a road map towards the 25-year review, agree on the methods it will use to engage with government and relevant stakeholders in South Africa and how it will conduct consultative processes as well as undertake research to deliver on its mandate. A conceptual framework that would guide the process was also agreed to, by the PRC.

Speaking at the launch of the PRC, Minister Dlamini stressed the importance of the committee’s work. “Injustices against women exist in all spheres of daily life, from labour practises, to sexual abuse, intentional undermining of the capabilities of women, lack of services for sexual and reproductive health and rights, land ownership for women, as well as cultural beliefs that are prejudiced against women.

In identifying our successes, I want you to also identify gaps that exist so that we can continue to close gender gaps,” said Minister Dlamini. “Our first target was to establish internal processes as well as establish our scope of work and define our limits so we have a baseline from which to develop the report,” said Professor

Taylor, who is also a member of the National Planning Commission.

Minister Dlamini stressed the need for engagement with women in rural areas, mining towns, in townships and informal settlements, and with middle-class women to ensure a diversity of voices of women from different social strata.

A conscious effort will be made to include the lived experiences of women and amplify their voices. In this way the PRC will better understand how structural conditions underpinned by patriarchy intersect with social, religious, economic, political and environmental processes to limit women’s emancipation and the achievement of gender justice.”

The PRC received a report on the gender-responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and auditing framework by the Acting Director-General of the Department of Women, Ms Annette Griessel. The framework was approved by Cabinet in March 2019 and its implementation will help enhance funding and delivery of programmes to improve the lives of women and girls towards the goal of gender equality.

The Presidential Review Committee will also issue a call for submissions that looks into different thematic areas (Women and the Economy , Women and Education, Women and Land, Women in LGBTQIA+ Communities, Women, Peace and Security, etc.) with the intention of incorporating this work into the 25-year Review on Women’s Emancipation and Gender Equality in South Africa.

The PRC intends to submit its report to President Ramaphosa in March 2020. The Report will provide practical and strategic guidance to consolidate the gains made since 1994, to address the policy, planning and institutional gaps, the changing contexts and new forms of exploitation and oppression of women and girls in contemporary South Africa.

The Presidential Review Committee on Women’s Emancipation and Gender Equality is chaired by Prof Viviene Taylor and includes the following members:

  1. Ms Precious Banda
  2. Ms Nomvulazana Jafta
  3. Ms Bibi Khan
  4. Rev Bafana Khumalo
  5. Dr Namane Magau
  6. Amb Mavivi Myakayak-Manzini
  7. Ms Sebenzile Matsebula
  8. Ms Nomahlubi Mazwai
  9. Ms Zanele Mbeki
  10. Dr Wallace Mgoqi
  11. Dr Phinda Mhlongo
  12. Ms Nompendulo Mkhatshwa
  13. Dr Nokuzola Mndende
  14. Dr Thembi Mokgethi
  15. Ms Mandisa Monakali
  16. Ms Sibongile Nene
  17. Mr Nkululeko Nxesi
  18. Ms Lebohang Pheko
  19. Dr Mamphele Ramphele
  20. Prof Laetitia Rispel
  21. Ms Nozizwe Madlala- Routledge
  22. Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi
  23. Ms Rebone Tau
  24. Mr Thulani Tshefuta
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