Committee priorities for 2001

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF WOMEN
24 January 2001
COMMITTEE PRIORITIES FOR 2001: POVERTY, VIOLENCE and HIV/AIDS

Chairperson: Ms P Govender

SUMMARY
The Committee identified three priorities for 2001: poverty, violence against women and HIV/AIDS. Three task teams were formed to deal specifically with each area of priority and each reported to the Committee on its plan of action.

MINUTES
Chairperson Govender gave a presentation on how research can be utilised most effectively, particularly in public hearings, and the importance of budget in addressing women's issues.

Professor Harriet Ngubane (IFP) asked if research should not be extended to report on the effectiveness of legislation that is intended to protect women, such as the maintenance laws.

Chairperson Govender responded the Committee was in the process of identifying priorities. She reminded the Committee that the priorities it identified in 1998 were the Sexual Offences Act and customary laws on inheritance and succession. She noted that none of the proposed legislation had come before Parliament.

Ms Semple (ANC) asked what happens in matters such as unfair dismissal for pregnancy. She noted there is legislation to protect pregnant women but that they are dismissed regardless.

The Chairperson responded that this is an issue of public awareness, of women and employers not knowing what their rights are. "If you don't know what your rights are, you can't claim them". The question, she said, is how to develop public awareness. Chairperson Govender linked this to the budget by noting how important it is that the resources of the budget be accessed to make women aware of their rights. Therefore, she said, it is important that the Committee's hearings take place in rural areas, where it is more difficult for women to learn of and understand their rights. She said she saw value in "taking the Committee out of Parliament to see for ourselves what women's experiences are".

Ms Lydia Ngwenya (ANC) asked what is the point of going to rural areas to listen sympathetically to the sad stories of women there unless the Committee can effect concrete change. She asked how strong the "teeth" of the Committee are.

The Chairperson answered the Committee has strong teeth indeed and that hearings on specific questions are necessary to identify the key issues and understand them in detail. This is the best way for the Committee to achieve its priorities. She added that the record shows the Committee has achieved its priorities in the past.

Ms Sono (DP) noted that, in terms of violence against women, there is now very progressive legislation in place. The current challenge is how to implement this legislation.

The Committee agreed to prioritise poverty, violence against women and HIV/AIDS for 2001.

The Chairperson asked the Committee to divide into three task teams, one for each of the prioritised issues, and asked each task team to identify what it intends to do and how.

After meeting in their task teams, each task team reported to the Committee as a whole. The Poverty task team reported it wants to "unpack" and analyse the complex issue of poverty in three ways. First, it intends to look at sustainable projects, management skills to empower women and identify private funders. Second, it wants to identify government departments that can potentially assist, such as Arts and Culture. Third, it proposes to identify the "poorest of the poor".

The HIV/AIDS task team said it wants to liaise with government and NGOs in all provinces that are involved in HIV programmes and campaign for increased public awareness. It will ask the Department of Health for a report of its statistics and action and look into who monitors NGOs that are funded specifically for HIV/AIDS. It will also look into the rights of people living with HIV in terms of, for example, discrimination in the workplace. Finally, the task team will undertake a comparative study of other SADC countries to see how they are dealing with HIV/AIDS.

The violence task team said it was impressed by the multi-agency approach taken in London, involving police, NGOs and government. It proposes to look at the role of the police in the implementation of the new legislation, get more information from women specifically affected by violence, and look at the role of district surgeons, nurses and Health Services. It also wants to consider the interdict procedure and the possibility that it can be used against women and, finally, the Sexual Offences Act.

Dr Jean Benjamin (ANC) asked the Committee to consider her suggestion that it initiate and organise a jazz concert to celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March, featuring women musicians and performers. The concert would showcase women's development and achievements and proceeds would go to a charity, such as AIDS orphans. The Committee agreed. The Chairperson suggested they find a charity to donate to through the Mandela Children' Fund.

The meeting was concluded.