Department of Agriculture briefing on World Congress of Rural Women
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Meeting report
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
4th 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 18th to
the 26th 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.
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