Commission on Gender Equality; Office on the Status of Women; Gender Summit: briefings

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF WOMEN
6 June 2001
COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUALITY; OFFICE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN; GENDER SUMMIT: BRIEFINGS

Chairperson: Ms P Govender

Documents distributed
Commission on Gender Equality: Media Statement (see Appendix 1)
CGE Programme of Action for Legislation, Monitoring and Advocacy
Gender Summit: Progress Report (see Appendix 2)
Briefing Document on Pre-Summit Provincial Consultations (see Appendix 3)
Women Creating the Future: Anthology of women's writing
Domestic Violence and Maintenance Act poster/pamphlet proposal

Commission on Gender Equality website: http://www.cge.org.za

SUMMARY
The Commission on Gender Equality announced the appointment of its new commissioners and spoke on its programme of action. The Office on the Status of Women briefed the committee on the current status of the gender machinery. A progress report on the National Gender Summit 2001 was given. Louisa Magodi gave a talk on the 'Women Creating the Future' project

MINUTES
Commission on Gender Equality
CGE chairperson, Ms Joyce Seroke, presented the new team of commissioners and commented on a sense of renewed determination to deal with critical issues. Tribute was paid to outgoing commissioners who had started the Commission on Gender Equality from scratch as the first of its kind in Africa. Two male members were also welcomed onto the committee. The Commission's Parliamentary Office outlined its Programme of Action for Legislation, Monitoring and Advocacy for 2001-2002. The focus was on decentralisation and the consolidation of partnerships with NGOs and community organisations, HIV/AIDS and violence against women.

The issue of women caught up in gang violence was raised. Questions were asked about what real action was being taken to combat violence against women, as talking about violence did not really constitute action. The issue of land reform was raised. Related to this was the need to address issues of water and sanitation of which women bear the brunt, and which the water board does not address. The CGE responded that violence against women and land reform are major themes of the Gender Summit. Concerning the water issue an example of a successful intervention in Kwazulu Natal was given.

The issue of infrastructure and organisation of the CGE was raised. Members commented on the unavailability of commissioners. Another member asked where full-time commissioners were appointed and for more detail regarding the structuring of the CGE so as to address gender issues separately in each province according to its unique set of problems. Comments were made on the lack of a permanent commissioner for the Northern Province, the country's poorest province.

Ms J Seroke responded that the CGE was committed to decentralisation. Commissioners operate within their own provinces. There are no offices for the CGE as such since there is no budget for this, however, each commissioner develops a network with NGOs, community and church organisations to deal with the issues of the province. Ms Gertrude Fester emphasized that this is still a transition period and that the CGE is under major budget constraints. Although its powers have been expanded, there were still gaps. The CGE has the ability to monitor all government and private institutions, including powers of seizure and subpoena, which this Committee does not have. The Chairperson, Ms P Govender, said that cooperation with the committee was required to best use the powers of the CGE. Ms Fatima Seedat commented on the development of a uniform complaints strategy to investigate complaints, so as to ensure the CGE's powers to monitor South African society with respect to gender issues.

A call was made for more information on a policy regarding traditional leadership.
Ms Seroke emphasised the long term nature of this particular programme of two years. These issues were being explored in the 'Gender, masculinity, tradition and culture' programme of the Gender Summit. Ms Seedat explained that work was being done, for example in the Northern Province to empower women with a voice in existing power structures, both traditional and legislative. Research was being done into traditional virginity testing and reforming the Witchcraft Repression Act.

The Chairperson commented on the need for co-operation between the CGE, the Committee and the Office on the Status of Women, especially given the fact that the National Budget has not increased its allocation for gender issues since the 1999.

Office on the Status of Women presentation
Dr Ellen Kornegay of the Office of the Status of Women spoke on what is being done to advance the integrated approach, emphasising the complementary roles of the Office on the Status of Women and the Commission on Gender Equality, of implementation and monitoring of gender policies respectively.

A member asked for the role of political parties in relation to the Office on the Status of Women to be defined. Dr. Kornegay responded that the Office was concerned with the mechanisms already put into place by the political process, in ensuring implementation achieves an integrated approach to gender issues.

[The Chairperson scheduled a discussion of the national policy framework for women's empowerment and gender equality for the following week.]

Gender Summit
A Progress Report, a briefing document on Pre-Summit Provincial Consultations and a Report from the SSC (Summit Steering Committee) were presented to the committee.

Ms P Govender congratulated the CGE on the Summit's addressing of poverty , HIV/AIDS, and land issues in relation to gender. The Chairperson commented that the focus of the Summit was not only on poverty and women in the survival sector and on unsustainable donor funding but on how to harness the capital and energy on a macroeconomic level. Finally it aimed to educate women at the Summit so that they leave knowing what rights they have under the law.

Ms Joyce Seroke expressed her satisfaction with the Summit program. She welcomed more input. The CGE, the Committee and the Office on the Status of Women will elect representatives to work on the Summit Steering Committee. The Summit is mostly funded by the CGE, and, as yet, has received no funding from the government.

'Women Creating the Future'
Writing
Louisa Magodi gave a short presentation on this programme which had involved workshops training women in the art of writing as an opportunity to document their own experiences in the first person. It was a year-long process at the end of which the women's stories were gathered and published as an anthology. Copies of the anthology entitled 'Women Creating the Future' were handed out.

Women's Day
A golf project has been planned, including BMW sponsored training and membership for women in Parliament. Ms Magodi explained that this is part of the demystification of another sphere of white male domination, in hope of 'teaching an old game new tricks'.

Members commented that they did not see the benefit of such exercises to the women themselves. How did they profit financially, or practically? Ms Sally Nqodi asked for clarity on what was being done to inform women of their rights and the transfer of skills to achieve economic empowerment. Ms Magodi responded that it was true these women had only produced stories of their traumas and negative experiences. She said there had been a lot of backlash. She said it was necessary to change the status of women from the negative, as victims, to the positive, as creators. There had been no profit involved, in fact they had lost money. A skills transfer programme has been set up in rural areas. It trains groups of ten women as trainers who then return to transfer these skills to other women in their areas.

The Chairperson congratulated the initiative on its work.

A poster/pamphlet proposal regarding the Domestic Violence and the Maintenance Act was handed to members, to be read in their own time. Input was requested from members. The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix 1:
Commission on Gender Equality: media release

New Commissioners on board
On behalf of every one at the Commission on Gender Equality, I would like to congratulate the new Commissioners who are joining the CGE as of May 2001.

The high calibre and collective experiences of the new Commissioners will hopefully add a new sense of direction, action, speed and determination to deal with critical issues pertaining to the mandate of the Commission. The nation has been eagerly waiting for the new team to join and start making the required impact on national issues of importance.

Names and short biographical details of new Commissioners:

Full-time Commissioners
Commissioner Gertrude Fester has been involved in both national liberation activities and gender issues since the 1980's. Her involvement in gender issues is diverse including undertaking academic studies in the Netherlands. Upon her return to the country, she continued her involvement with gender issues in some cases initiating new women's projects. She is also a former educator in dramatic arts.

Commissioner Bafana Khumalo is a theologian with a comprehensive combination of professional and activist experiences, including participation in peace accords during the days of conflicts; project management; and authorship of many publications including some on HIV/AIDS.

Commissioner Sheila Meintjes is a renowned academic locally and abroad, whose work extends beyond university walls. She has conducted several research projects, the results of which informed gender developments in our country. In addition to lecturing, she has done a lot of gender-related work as well as commentary in electronic and print media on areas such as gender, policy and the state, gender and violence and gender and politics.

Commissioner Beatrice Ngcobo (re-appointed) has been a Commissioner for the whole the last term. She brought with her vast experience in promoting the rights of both women and people with disabilities. Her professional background includes training as a nurse and midwife. She later moved to academic work in social sciences. Some of her work with the CGE has included issues around HIV/AIDS and virginity testing.

Commissioner Nombulelo Siqwana-Ndulo has a multifaceted academic background that cuts across sociology, education and gender and has written extensively on all these areas both in South Africa and Zambia. She has extensive research knowledge and experience in various aspects of women living in rural areas.

6. Commissioner Manana Tlake (re-appointed) combines gender work with her health professional background. Before joining the CGE during its first term, Manana was a lecturer in the Nursing Department of the University of Qwa Qwa. She has been instrumental in setting up an office for the CGE in Free State.

Part-time commissioners:
Commissioner Sophia Williams-de Bruyn is a veteran activist in both national and gender issues. As a young activist she was one of the four leaders of the march to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 - the only one still alive. She was involved in major campaigns in the 50's such as mobilising for the Congress of the People and in trade unionism of the time. She lived in exile between 1963 and 1990 during which time she held various posts in the liberation movement including being seconded to lecture in the UN Institute of Namibia. Since her return she has participated in major events especially in the build up to the 1^st national democratic elections.

Commissioner Thabisa Dumisa is a senior educator in KwaZulu-Natal. The Commissioner is currently a Provincial Co-ordinator for Transformation and Gender Equity in the Department of Education and Culture. This post enabled him to make a lot of in-roads into gender inequity.

Commissioner Themba Kgasi is a gender activist who has participated in various platforms fighting battles against gender inequality. Her background is entrenched in the labour movement, where she has been a long serving member and staffer at COSATU.

Commissioner Rashida Manjoo is a women's rights activist and lawyer by profession. She has been involved in the violence against women sector for many years and is a former member of the SALC project committee on domestic violence. She is presently a research associate at Law, Race and Gender Unit (a judicial education project) at the University of Cape Town. She is also involved with the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice on the International Criminal Court.

Commissioner Teboho Maitse has a long history in women's activities and issues of national liberation. Teboho has extensive knowledge of gender issues and inter personal relations and has done extensive work on issues pertaining to violence against women both in Britain and South Africa. She worked as a lecturer in Women's Studies at the University of Bradford where she taught research methods and gender.

CGE Programmes, projects and activities
The Commission has a long list of programmes, projects and activities that will demand the full attention of Commissioners. Just a few of these below:

National Gender Summit;
Human Resource Development Strategy;
Internal Audits:
External Audits;
National Curriculum Development (National Education);
Traditional Institutions;
Gender in the workplace;
Gender and the courts;
Gender projects in Black Management Forum;
Re-equipment of the CGE Information Technology;
Domestic Violence & Violence Against Women;
Social Security;
Gender and Religion;
Gender dialogues;
CGE Book Project;
HIV/AIDS;
Sex work and prostitution;
Revision of PPRR and internal policies; and
Many others.

The CGE staff welcome our Commissioners on board and look forward to them enhancing the work of the Commission in the next five years.

Commissioner Welcoming Committee (CWC)
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Commissioner Welcoming Committee (Thandi Mngoma, Doreen Mazibuko-Moyo, Eva Moloko, Nontobeko Yose, Nontobeko Mofokeng, Vivian Bilabateho, Ntombenhle Mbhele, Letty Nxumalo, Nomfundo Luphondwana). The Committee has been in touch with every new Commissioner and are busy finalising preparations for the induction week.

Details of the induction week will be announced once we have confirmation of availability from all Commissioners. Staff and stakeholders are requested to avail themselves for welcoming our Commissioners during the weeks starting 21/5, 28/5 or 4/6.

Zith Mahaye
Chief Executive Officer

Appendix 2:
GENDER SUMMIT: PROGRESS REPORT PREPARED FOR PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE MEETING OF 06 JUNE 2001

INTRODUCTION
Following the session on the Gender Summit Committee on 23 May 2001.

The Parliamentary Committee was formally briefed on the Gender Summit at the meeting of the 23 May 2001. Preceding this, all communication to the Committee was channelled through the Committee Chairperson.

The following is an update on preparations noting issues raised by the Committee:

PROVINCIAL CONSULTATIONS
The "Briefing Document" on provincial consultations has since been updated. It now also includes abstract or brief context on each of the sub-themes.

While the consultations are underway this does not prevent Committee Members from making further suggestions and input. Due to time constraints, it is important that concrete suggestions/plans, rather than broad ideas are made.

Summit Steering Committee (SSC) members will be participating in all the consultations, as indicated. It would be preferable members of this Committee could participate in some manner in the consultations.

SUMMIT WEBSITE
The Gender Summit Website will go live as at 01 June 2001. For further information on the Summit, visit www.womensnet.org.za/gendersummit

The Gender Summit Website is hosted by Women's Net, a joint project of SANGONeT and the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE).


SUMMIT BUDGET
The Gender Summit office is housed by the CGE. The Commission is therefore bearing operational and human resource costs, and has further pledged R1 million towards the Summit. For the Summit to succeed, at least R2, 7 million needs to be raised.

Sadly, no money has yet been availed by Government to the Summit. Furthermore partner structures within the Gender Machinery are still to concretely pledge any resources towards the Summit to date.

Perhaps Committee members could explore what role they could play to assist with fundraising for the Summit.

SSC MINUTES
The recent SSC meeting was held on 29 May 2001. Minutes of this session will be availed to this Committee, when they are ready for distribution on the week of 04 June 2001.

In the interim a short-term activity list was distributed to all SSC members (including the Secretary of this Committee, following recommendation made at the last meeting).

PROJECT MANAGER'S REPORT
The Project Manager's Report to the SSC of 29 May 2001, also provides further information on preparations for the Summit.

Appendix 3:
BRIEFING DOCUMENT on PRE-SUMMIT PROVINCIAL CONSULTATIONS

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
WHY A NATIONAL GENDER SUMMIT
South Africa needs to take stock of how far it has come as a nation in implementing the ideals espoused in the constitution and the various international conventions that it has ratified of advancing and promoting gender equality. This moment also presents a chance for the national Gender Machinery to review and assess how far it and other structures that are mandated to promote and protect gender equality have come, to consolidate their learnings and together chart out a new vision for the millennium. The national Gender Summit therefore presents South Africa with an opportunity to carve a revised national gender programme that will ensure a rapid advancement of women and the effective attainment of gender equality.

OBJECTIVES OF THE GENDER SUMMIT
Critically assess the progress that South Africa has made in addressing the 12 critical areas of concern as defined in the Beijing Platform for Action as well as the African Charter for Effective Equality.
Identify major gaps and new/emerging issues that need to be addressed, and develop appropriate strategies.
Examine the impact and effectiveness of South Africa's national Gender Machinery.
Examine efforts and challenges in various sectors at achieving the goal of gender equality, in particular those in/by: the private sector, government, the women's movement, civil society in general, community- based initiatives and the donor community.
To share sub-regional (SADC), and regional (African), perspectives on strategies to achieve the goal of gender equality.

EXPECTED SUMMIT OUTCOMES
A report on the Summit proceedings to highlight the achievements and emerging challenges in implementing gender equality in South Africa.
An overview of who the key stakeholders and partners are, and their analysis of critical issues.
Some pointers for the national Gender Machinery on new strategic directions to take.
Galvanisation of the women's and broad gender equality movement around the goal of gender equality.
Putting gender equality (back), on the national (and Regional) agenda.

SUMMIT THEME & SUB-THEMES
The Gender Summit theme is Realising Gender Equality: Justice, Peace and Poverty Eradication.

The following are the sub-themes, all fundamental underlined by the key principles of poverty eradication, access to justice and the intersection of race, gender and socio-economic status as well as the rural-urban divide, in the context of the theme:

Land Reform
Since the inception of the new government there has been progress made in many spheres. We have seen laws put in place to empower every citizen of South Africa. This was to empower and to improve their status as citizens of the country. Amongst many of the laws that have been put forward by government are laws around land reform. These laws allow individuals and communities to access, control, sand security of tenure over land that they have acquired. The main aims of these laws were to make sure that individuals are equally protected by the law. Even though that is the case, there is still gender discrimination when it comes to land allocation. For a majority of women access land is still a dream. This happens in rural areas where single women cannot get land or if she does, it is still registered under her first born son. They also have to pay high prices in order to access land. Which is money that men are not required to pay. This is because of traditional practices that are still dominant in rural areas.

There is also a problem of access to information in rural areas. Even though there are laws that protect people with regard to land, many of them are still not known by those meant to benefit from them. They still think that past laws and traditional laws are legitimate laws that apply to their daily lives. This shows that there is a gap that exists between laws and policies made and implementation of those policies and laws. The sound policies and laws that have been made do not seem to cater for rural women. What has been highlighted also show that there is lack of workable programs and implementation processes. Laws have been written but there is no monitoring on how far they reach people.

The sub-theme of land reform, will explore, among others, the following:
Access, security of tenure and control
Discriminatory traditional practices
Information dissemination and education
Equal protection of the law

Discrimination Against Learners
Learners in schools experience discrimination of different types. They are often discriminated against because they are pregnant; their HIV status, sexual orientation and in career development. These discriminatory practices continue despite the fact that there are different laws that have been put in place to protect the rights of learners and to ensure that they do not experience any form of discrimination. Sec (10) of the Bill of Rights states that everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
Sec 28 (1) further states that every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or denigration.
(c) To basic nutrition, shelter, basic health-care services and social services.
(f) Not required or permitted to perform work or provide services that place at risk the child's well being, education, physical or mental, health or spiritual, moral or social development.

Other laws protecting the rights of learners include the SA Schools Act. Despite all these laws, the Human Rights Watch (2001) report that nearly two thirds of the children who are denied the right to education are female even though the international community has identified girls' education as critical priority. They identified one of the obstacles for girls to access education as the level of insecurity in their school premises. The school environment was identified in the report as a major problem that has not received sufficient scrutiny. The report further states that on a daily basis in schools and educational institutions across the nation, South African girls of every race and economic class encounter sexual violence and harassment that impedes their realisation of the right to education.

There has been reports of teenage girls who experience different types of discrimination and denied the right to education because they are pregnant. This is done by teachers who deny pregnant girls access or permission to carry on their education in their schools. The reasons being that they will bring the school to disrepute. Those who do go to school are often isolated and secluded from other school children. This seclusion and exclusion goes with being called names by school authorities. In some schools, especially in rural areas girls who have children or are pregnant are put in one classroom and labeled as 'promiscuous women'.

School going children who are HIV positive are often denied the right to education by the teachers, school governing bodies and other parents with children in the same school. Those who attend school often have to face up to an education system that does not have human and material resources necessary to offer support to them.

This sub-theme will explore among others:
Discrimination against pregnant learners
Sexual abuse and sexual violence in educational institutions
HIV/AIDS
Enabling environment for career development of girl learners in science and technology field

Gender and HIV/AIDS
AIDS/HIV is a health, social and economic crisis facing the whole world. Its implications do not only end with the physiological functioning of a human body. Just like the problems it causes on the functioning of the human body, it creates disruptions to the social structure and functioning of human beings. Both men and women can get infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. But the effects to the sexes are different. HIV/AIDS must be combated from a gender perspective, i.e. in a context of the existing power relations between men and women as well as Blacks and whites in our society. Until HIV/AIDS is addressed from gender perspective, it will continue to have a disproportionate effect on women.

A gendered and integrated approach to HIV/AIDS will include a focus on the following:

Treatment: - the debate about treatment is a complex one. The ongoing dialogue is commendable, but it should not be dominated by scientists. The voices of the people, in particular women, who were participants in various "trials", must be heard. It would be interesting to hear, for example, how participants in the Hlabisa trials (in KwaZulu Natal) experienced the treatment.

Also of great concern is that the manner in which messages on treatment are currently being transmitted to the public. These may potentially create unintended expectations for ordinary people. Most importantly, the focus on treatment should not overshadow the significance of prevention and education

Care and CareGivers: - care for HIV/AIDS patients requires both social and institutional support. Most caregivers are women; particularly the elderly as HIV/AIDS has impacted mainly on the younger generation.

There is a tendency is to talk as if care-giving is not taking place. We need to be learning from current experiences of care-givers to ensure that both men and women share this function.

Furthermore, care-givers need to be emotionally, socially and financially supported. This is thus a call to all government departments, organs civil society and donors to work together to develop an appropriate and integrated institutional framework and plan.

Prevention and Education: the biggest challenge on prevention and education is filtering appropriate messages behind closed doors and ensuring they actually translate into behaviour changes. It should be remembered that currently, even in the bedroom, the majority of women do not have control or decision making on the use of preventative measures.
The fact that protective measures are only available for men (in the form of condoms) further disempowers women to make decisions about their sexual activities.

In the short term, alternative protective means needs to be availed for women. Some evaluation on interventions in this regard to date needs to be done, so that appropriate strategies can be further developed and implemented.

In discussing this sub-theme, participants need to consider, among others, the following:
Health, welfare and support services
Employment "testing" particularly in relation to marginalised employees such as domestic workers
Equal protection of the law
Access to public benefits

Gender, Tradition and Culture
There have been discussion papers and a Bill on the issue of traditional leadership and its institutions. The discussion is based on whether traditional institutions and traditional courts can be transformed to achieve gender equality. Related to this is the challenge of addressing gender equality within the institution of traditional leadership in line with the constitutional emphasis on the principle of non-discrimination.

It needs to be understood that terms like culture, custom and tradition mean practices that are transmitted from one generation to the other through socialization. During this time they change and adapt themselves as the context changes. The word culture is often used to justify some of the practices and sometimes 'masks' e.g. some of the existing or emerging inequalities on which; in different ways; society is based and which are explicit in the concept of social organisation.

The Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act was put into place to remedy the discriminatory experiences of previously disadvantaged groups; especially women. The promulgation of the Act was influenced by political changes that have taken place in the country. The fact that there are discriminatory cultural practices in existence in our society means that there challenges that should be addressed through the application of the Act.

The introduction of equality measures within the institution of traditional leadership should not be seen as an imposition, a way of undermining the cultural values on which it is based or as melting down cultural practices. It should be seen as logical cultural change that is necessary for the development and advancement of cultural practices which are not static, but dynamic practices that will be in harmony with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

If we need to restore cultural values, the question that needs to be asked is which and whose of those cultural values are we protecting? Experience has shown that cultural values prevalent and protected so far are those that favour men and discriminate against women. We also need to be careful of how words like tradition or culture are used as they are often used to justify various forms of discrimination. Tradition often compounds the discrimination against women in different communities.

The sub-theme will thus focus on, among others:
Discriminatory practices in traditional institutions
Discriminatory cultural practices

Gender and Religion
Religion is one of the influential organs of civil society. Only a few religious institutions have embraced transformation. The majority of religious institutions are controlled by men. There is a lot of patriarchy within religious institutions, further entrenched by male domination in these institutions. Women are the silent majority in all religious institutions. Gendered roles within religious institutions have made women subordinate to their male counter parts.

Religious institutions are public institutions that are seemed and perceived as men's fortes. They give men a platform and limit the role of women to private activities, which reinforce existing barriers in terms of participation of women in religious institutions. The question that needs to be asked is whether religious institutions exist outside the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The silence regarding religious institutions and their gender-based discrimination sends a message that anything existing within religious boundaries is not underpinned by the values of democracy; equality for all and advancement of a human rights culture, as contained in our Constitution.

Our Constitution promotes freedom of religion, belief and opinion. This does not mean that any discriminatory practices should be tolerated nor does it justify discriminatory practices just because they are religious. This means that people can practice their religion to illustrate their distinctiveness and to celebrate their diversity as a people. Distinction need to be made between religious practices that are protected by The Constitution and those that people use for their own benefit to discriminate against women, the poor, homosexuals, or people of other races.

Gender and the Economy
Of the total population of South Africa 42% of Africans are unemployed as compared to 4.6% of whites. When these statistics are broken down according to gender and race 23% of black males are unemployed compared to 3,1% of white males. On the other hand 31,5% of black males are employed as compared to 63% of white males. 52,4% of black women are unemployed as compared to 5.1% of white women.

With that being the case African men make the majority of the unskilled labour with a percentage of 23,3 as compared to3, 9% of white males. On the other hand 56,7% of African women are in unskilled labour as compared to 3% of white women.

These statistics show high levels of racial and gender discrepancies in employment practices. They reflect a need to address the problem of skill shortages among black people with black women given preference. This also shows that unemployment rate is particularly high among African women.

These statistics also show the level of income between white and black people; and between men and women. 47,5% of employed African women earn R500.00 or less compared to 65% of white men who earn more than R3000.00 per month.

The level of earnings, employment and skills show that the majority of black women are faced with severe poverty as compared to white women. That has negative implications for black women. For instance, in the business sector white women are highly likely to get access to finance or credit where as a relatively large proportion of Africa women cannot access finances in the formal economic sector. Earnings of black women together with their general low financial status cannot afford them credibility to be financed.

Employment and earning differences are not the only factors that leads to black (women) not to have access to finances. Apartheid policies of settlement planning for black people still have an effect on service provision. Black families are situated far from major economic sectors of the country. Black men and women were put in reserves that do not have any means of economic generation.

Black women's financial status led them to be involved in 'informal economic sector' which until now does not have full legal or legislative and financial protection. They operate in a vacuum. Those that are involved in this sector do not have formal training or skills to run their business.

This sub-theme will explore, among others, the informal/ survivalist sector a, focusing on:
Access to finance
Education and information dissemination
Equal protection of the law
HIV/AIDS
Unemployment.

PURPOSE OF PROVINCIAL CONSULTATIONS
The purpose of the proposed pre-summit provincial consultations include:

To provide a platform for stakeholders who would otherwise not be able to participate in the actual Summit to engage on gender equality, in relation to the sub-themes.

To target the voices specifically of communities in all provinces, in particular women and the youth.

To utilise existing infrastructure, institutions and resources in conducting the consultations

The outcome of the consultations will feed into the Gender Summit as background materials and will further be utilised in post-Summit strategy implementation.

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF PROVINCIAL CONSULTATIONS
Outline of gender-based discriminatory practices per identified sub-theme

Outline of systemic constraints per sub-theme

Proposed solutions to the above

Identify two representatives per sub-theme to be resource persons for Summit breakaway groups

CALENDER OF CONSULTATIONS

For any enquiries on the Gender Summit, please contact:
The Project Manager: Gender Summit 2001
Tel (011) 403 7182
Cell: 082 446 4339
Email: nomfundo¶ cge.org.za