Department of Agriculture briefing on World Congress of Rural Women

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF WOMEN
9 March 2007
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BRIEFING ON WORLD CONGRESS OF RURAL WOMEN

Chairperson: Ms M Morutoa (ANC)

Document handed out:
Presentation on 4^th World Congress of Rural Women

SUMMARY
The DOA made a presentation on the progress report for the hosting of the word congress on rural women taking place in Durban from the 18^th to the 26^th of April 2007 to the Joint Committee on Women. The Department threw some light on its preparedness for the congress. The congress was the fourth in line since its inception in 1994. South Africa had been chosen to host this year’s summit and was doing so on behalf of the whole of Africa. As a result there is a robust African Union participation.  Two congresses would be held simultaneously, one for the Government and the other for the civil society. The theme of the conference is “working together towards total emancipation of rural women from poverty and hunger”

The Department is involved in an on-going drive of mobilizing rural women to participate in the congress. Rural women are being mobilized through Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD). The DOA called for contributions, insights and suggestions on how to improve the congress from Parliament. Parliamentarians were asked to help mobilize rural women by publicizing the congress to women in their constituency.

The members wanted to know the role they were expected to play at the congress. They asked that the Department formally invite them by writing a letter to the Speaker requesting their presence at the congress. They also said it was important that they participate in the congress.
Questions were asked as to the Department’s means of mobilizing rural women. It is imperative that the poor rural women were properly mobilized so that the benefits of the congress would be felt at this level. The Committee also wanted to know the role the Office of the Status of Women (OSW) was playing towards facilitating the congress.

MINUTES
Hosting of World Congress of Rural Women: briefing 
Ms N Nduli, Department of Agriculture (DOA) Deputy Director General made the presentation on the progress report on the preparation for the hosting of the world congress of rural women to be held in Durban.

The world congress of rural women is an international gathering of rural women held every four years. The last congress was held in 2002 in Spain. The aim of the congress is to discuss universal issues and how they affect women particularly in the areas of globalization, food security, new technologies and public policies. The congress will afford the Continent to reflect so far on the progress made towards attaining the millennium development goals. About 2000 participants drawn from South Africa, the rest of Africa and other parts of the world are expected to participate. Various committees have been set up to facilitate the hosting of the congress including the inter ministerial, National preparatory and steering committees. These committees would assist in chosen areas including security and accreditation, publicity, logistics, budget and fund raising.

The themes of the congress include: globalization and eradicating impoverishment, peace and stability, governance for rural development at all levels, environmental security and access control of resources, health and well being.

Logistical arrangements have been put in place to ensure a hitch free congress. Publicity on the congress is also being undertaken and the Department involves other organs of the Government including the Office of the Status of Women. International Organizations like the European Union, the AU and SADC are also involved. The sum of R31, 894 355.00 has been budgeted for the congress.

Discussion
The Chairperson explained that the Committee was made up of members from the two houses. The NCOP members were however not at the present meeting. She asked Ms Camerer if she was familiar with the Congress.

Ms S Camerer (DA) said she had attended a similar forum in the past in Pretoria and found it quite interesting. She did not know if the present congress was similar to the one she earlier attended but observed that it was worth her while.

Ms S Rwexana (ANC) agreed that the theme of the conference was interesting and challenging. She however asked what the role of the Parliament would be at the forth coming congress.  It is important to involve the Parliament in the preparations and it is insufficient to have MPs just register for the congress.  The Department should write a letter to the Speaker formally inviting the members and also stating their role. The cost for attendance at the congress should also be borne by the Department.

Responding, Ms Nduli promised to send letters to the Speaker inviting the parliament to the congress. She requested for a list of the different Committees that would be attending so that letters are sent through the Minister’s office.

Ms Rwexana noted that there are two conferences, one for the civil society and the other for the government, which of the two were members expected to attend.

Ms M Tong, chief of staff DOA replied that the two conferences would run simultaneously in the same vicinity and members were free to choose which one to attend.

Ms D Morobi (ANC) commended the DOA for putting up a good report. She asked how the Department could ensure that rural women were well informed about the congress. Her constituency is semi rural and most of the women were thus unaware of the congress.

Ms Nduli replied that the DOA was mobilizing women through WARD. She said that the Department would appreciate the assistance of the Committee members in reaching out to women in their constituency. The congress would not be just another talk shop; rather post congress synergy would be applied to ensure that points raised therein have a positive long lasting effect on the women.

Ms D Morobi.  Asked how non governmental organizations (NGOs) help in mobilizing women for the congress?

The question was not answered.
 
Ms Camerer noted that the convention she attended earlier was a bit different from the present congress. She suggested it would be a good idea for the DOA to make a similar presentation to the Agriculture Committee. The Parliamentary delegation should participate in the Government congress as opposed to that of the civil society.

The Chairperson asked what role the OSW was playing towards making the congress a success. She also said that the Committee was interested in the work of the OSW in the Provinces.
 
Ms M Tong replied that the Office was participating fully and was making much needed contributions towards successful hosting of the congress.

The meeting was adjourned.