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This article examines the current status of gender parity in political decision-making in South Africa, focusing on various sectors such as government, civil service, and tertiary education. It also discusses the challenges and progress in the SADC region and the African continent. The article concludes with recommendations for an overarching strategy to drive the gender and poverty agenda beyond 2015.
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Governance Article 12.1 ‘Representation’: Political-decision making • Current status quo in terms of the 2014, 50:50 gender parity goal
Gender barometer 2013:governance • Central Government(quota: 30%) • DG’s/PS: 34 • Directors:35,9 2. public/civil service commission:41,7% 3. IEC: 40% 4. Peace and Security Missions(UN and AU Operations) • Individual force:20.7% • Experts missions:23.3% • Contingent troops:17.4%
Gender barometer 2013:governance 5.Tertiary education(universities/technickons) • Research and academic staff: range between 30%-48% • SADC Gender Protocol: SA signed on17/08/08; ratified in 2011
Why? • South Africa does not has legislation enforcing political parties, to stick to the quota system in their electoral party lists • The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has always been averse to quotas • Agang, led by a woman, only got two seats. However party leader Mamphela Ramphele, said she is not going to Parliament because she wants to reflect on her party's disappointing performance, and is putting forward two male MPs.
2014 barometer • There is a need for an overarching strategy that responds to all of the above-cited strategic deficits and which enables the MPWC to take a leading role in driving the gender and poverty agenda beyond 2015. Of relevance in determining such a strategy are the priorities and areas of focus being discussed and debated currently, which include the following
2014 barometer • Globally, the focus is on the shape and nature of global development beyond 2015/ after the Millennium Development Goals. Here the thinking is informed by global considerations such as: • The Human Development Report (HDR), which highlights challenges confronting the entire world, the ‘three E's’ economic (finances, mainly in Europe and trickle down globally) energy (lack of alternative energy sources) and ecology (climate change).
2014 barometer • These are affecting all countries, specifically developing countries, specifically poor women. • The June 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20, adopted a stand-alone Sustainable Development Goal to ‘attain gender equality [and] empower women and girls everywhere’. This goal has been unpacked into 11 specific gender targets.
Global (contd.) Post 2015 poverty and gender agenda should have the following characteristics: It should: • Leave no one behind( be inclusive of gender, race, age, ethnicity, etc)/ from basic economic opportunities • Put sustainable development at the core • Transform economies for jobs and inclusive growth • Build peace and effective, open and accountable institution for all • Forge new global partnerships, which will be inclusive of all
Africa we want – outcomes of the AU Consultation • A transformative goal on gender equality built on the premise of a human rights approach to development that seeks to: • End all forms of sexual and gender based- violence faced by all women and girls by 2030; • Ensure women and girls have access to, control over and ownership of productive resources including land, credit, energy, information and technology; • c
Africa we want(contd.) c) Ensure 50% representation of women in decision-making across all sectors by 2030*+98/ d) Recognition, redistribution and remuneration for unpaid care work for women and girls. 2. Eliminate legal, social and economic barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing their sexual and reproductive health rights as well as integrated services. 3. Gender mainstreaming throughout all proposed goals that would lead to social, economic and environmental transformation, achieved through identifying specific gender targets as well as disaggregated gender sensitive indicators that would curb the persistence of gender inequalities, discrimination and unequal development progress between women and men, girls and boys
2014 barometer • In the SADC Region, after intensive data collection and analysis, important stakeholders that met proposed that the SADC Gender Protocol be packaged into clusters, themes, targets and quantifiable indicators. It is recommended that the clusters include the following:
2014 barometer • Gender responsive governance, e.g. • Economic and climate justice • Women’s rights • Voice/communication • Gender management systems.
2014 barometer • Continentally the African Common Position in as far as gender equality is concerned, prioritizes the following (based on the outcomes of the consultative meetings convened by the African Union) :
2014 barometer • Adoption of a human rights approach to gender equality, which has been unpacked into 4 targets • Adoption of a reproductive and sexual rights approach to gender equality • Gender mainstreaming, has been, once more adopted as a strategy for gender equality
