Report-backs from sub-committees

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF WOMEN
14 February 2001
SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT BACK ON POVERTY, HIV/AIDS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Chairperson: Ms P Govender

Documents handed out
Report-back by Sub-committee on HIV/AIDS (Appendix 1)
Report-back by Sub-committee on Poverty (Appendix 2)

SUMMARY
The Committee heard report-backs from two of the three sub-committees:
The aim of the Sub-committee on Poverty is to identify poverty projects which are already in place. The success or failure of the projects will be examined so that successful projects can be copied. The Committee also needs to know how different ministries measure poverty - in order to identify how poverty is defined by different Ministries and Departments.

The Subcommittee on HIV/AIDS suggested briefings by various departments to see how each department is dealing with the HIV/AIDS problem. They also suggest visits to hospices and clinics, and study tours to countries which have an HIV/AIDS problem similar in extent as South Africa.

MINUTES
Poverty Sub-committee Report-back
The spokesperson for this sub-committee noted that poverty is a complex subject. In each country it has a particular historical depth. In South Africa the results of apartheid are well-known. The sub-committee seeks to understand the essence of poverty so that they can assess the extent to which vulnerable sectors of society are affected.

They will embark on a process of information gathering, seeking briefings from experts in the various ministries and departments. These include the Departments of Welfare, Finance, Water Affairs and a briefing from Statistics South Africa. They will have a specific focus on Statistics SA because they need to know the statistics for the different categories of women that are affected. People often refer to ''the poorest of the poor''. They would like to know what the yardstick for this is. They will request information regarding measurements used to determine the degree of poverty.

Ms Botha (DP, Free State) said that they wanted to get information from Departments on which projects were in place and the success or failure of these projects. If the projects were a failure they could pinpoint the reasons and they could identify the positive aspects of successful projects for other projects to copy.

They noted that they will need a researcher/secretary to deal with the administrative tasks which arise from the work of the sub-committee.

The Chairperson wanted a specific plan of action from the sub-committee and asked when this would be ready.

The sub-committee replied that their focal points will be briefings from the Departments of Welfare and Water Affairs and Stats SA. With Water Affairs for example, they would want to ask them what their budget allocation is for ensuring all rural areas receive clean water. They would also want to know what is its integrated approach for tackling the cholera problem. They have not set any specific dates yet as their planning is still in its initial stages.

The main aim of the sub-committee is to identify poverty projects which are already in place. In tandem with this main aim they must inform themselves how poverty is defined by the different ministries. Stats SA gives information on the level of poverty in different areas. The committee needs to know how different ministries measure poverty.

The Committee will decide on the dates for these presentations. This would then be submitted to the Portfolio Committee on Welfare as well who would make the final decisions.

HIV/AIDS Sub-committee
Their objectives include:
- to involve the provincial and local gender focal points in the participation of HIV/AIDS programmes, and to
- to convene NGOs and stakeholder meetings to clarify their roles and to identify resources focussed on HIV/AIDS programmes.

They suggest:
- a briefing by the Department of Health on the HIV/AIDS situation in SA (as it is the core department dealing with HIV/AIDS),
- getting a provincial breakdown of statistics on the current and future impact of HIV/AIDS on women.
- a briefing by the Welfare, Labour and Education Departments. This is important because they should know how every department is tackling the problem.
- visits to hospices, HIV centres and clinics.
- study tours to countries with a similar problem (such as Uganda) so that they can learn how they have dealt with the problem.

Ms Botha said that they should look at the possibility of scheduling provincial visits.

Violence against Women Sub-committee
Since this sub-committee had been unable to meet, they did not have a report. The committee agreed that they would meet after the present committee meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix1:
MEETING OF TASK TEAM ON HIV/AIDS DRAFT PROGRAMME
12 FEBRUARY 2001

ATTENDANCE/PRESENT
1. Mutsila I
2. Sample J
3. Makasi M N
4. Nqodi S B
5. Themba P
6. Morobi D
7. Thompson B

OBJECTIVES
- To establish accountability patterns and implementing monitoring systems in government departments, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) stakeholders.
- To involve the provincial and local gender focal points in the participation of HIV/AIDS programmes.
- To convene NGOs and stakeholders meetings to clarify their roles and identify resources focussed on HIV/AIDS programmes.
- Convene NGOs and stakeholders meetings to give us an overview background on how they develop and coordinate their plans or programmes on HIV/AIDS in assisting their communities.
- To establish a political will and support as a major opportunity for the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of life and Status of Women in terms of creating a conducive environment for gender mainstreaming and accountability with the HIV/AIDS sectors.

ACTIVITIES
N.B. Dates are not yet suggested.
1. Briefing by the Department of Health on overview of HIV/AIDS with regard to:
- The situation in South Africa
- Statistics
- Provincial Breakdown
- The impact in terms of HIV/AIDS and women
- The current and future impact of HIV/AIDS
- Some issues for consideration and discussion
2. Briefing by the Department of Social Welfare
3. Briefing by other Governmental Departments eg Labour, Education etc.
4. Briefing by NGOs, stakeholders and Community Based Organisations (CBO).
5. Visits to various hospice, HIV/AIDS centres and clinics for HIV/AIDS patience in all provinces starting with the Western Cape.
6. Visits to Provincial Departments and Provincial Legislatures in all provinces with specific reference to HIV/AIDS programmes (OSW)
Study tours to countries with similar HIV/AIDS problems.
7.1. Uganda
7.2. Harare

Appendix 2:
SUB-COMMITTEE ON POVERTY

INTRODUCTI ON
Having been established as a sub-committee on 24 January 2001, we met as a sub-committee for the first time on 6 February 2001 at 12h30 in room 236 Marks Building.

There were nine members who attended. Having been seven originally, we had gained two members (see appendix). We had a second meeting on 13 February 2001.

At the two meetings the Sub-Committee decided on:
(a) Procedure
(b) Guidelines
(c) Plan of action

(a) Procedure
- It was decided that the Sub-Committee should meet on every Tuesday at 12h00.
- A Committee of three was formed which was going to provide the co-ordinating function of the ideas that arise from the Sub-Committee and produce a written record of the proceedings. This is to he on an ad-hoc basis.

(b) Guidelines
- The Committee seeks to understand poverty and various methods of alleviating it, being aware that it is a complex subject with historical depth in each given country. In our own country the history or Apartheid and its consequences are well known.

By focusing on poverty, the Sub-Committee seeks a profound understanding of the essence of poverty in order to assess the extent in which vulnerable sectors of our society, such as women and children are affected.

(c) Plan Of Action
INFORMATION GATHERING
The aim is to request briefing from experts who are in the relevant ministries and departments dealing with poverty. These include:
- Welfare
- Central Statistics
- Finance
- Water and Forestry
- Health
- Agriculture and Land Affairs
- Education
- Trade and Industry
- Environment
- Housing.
- Local Government

In our information gathering, we shall have a specific focus on, for instance:
(i) Central Statistics SA - We shall seek de-segregated statistical information of various categories of women affected.
(ii) We shall also request information regarding measurements used to determine the degree of poverty.
(iii) Apart from information anticipated from experts, the Sub-Committee decided to use available and upgraded literature on the various activities of the above mentioned departments and ministries regarding poverty.
(iv) The Sub-Committee also decided to make use of experts that may be available among the members of the Joint Management Committee on the quality of life and status of women.
(v) We shall also look at the projects on the ground, some of which are supported by NGOs with a view to alleviating poverty.

CONCERNS NEEDING CLARIFICATION
1. What is the status of the Sub-Committee in terms of:
(a) Objectives as envisaged by the Joint Monitoring Committee.
(b) Terms of Reference eg are we to be called ''Task Team'' or ''Sub-Committee''.
(c) Scope of Action
2.In view of the complexity of the subject matter which necessitates the frequency of the meetings, the Sub-Committee recognised the need for a Researcher/ Secretary in order to assist in the administration of the material that comes out of these meetings.

Addendum
The following are the names of the Sub-Committee on Poverty:
1. Professor Harriet Ngubane - Convenor (IFP)
2. Ms Margaret Twala - Scribe (ANC)
3. Ms Bernice Sono (DP)
4. Ms. Nokuzola Mdende (UDM)
5. Mr Dumisile Nhlengetha (ANC)
6. Mr Gaoretelelwe Elias Baloyi (UCDP)
7. Ms. Maureen Malumise (ANC)
8. Ms Sandra Botha (NCOP, DP)
9. Ms Lulu Xingwana (ANC)

N.B: In all our meetings, we always had a quorum.