Ending poverty in the global village - and at home

During the past week, we witnessed two important and related events of great importance to our country. One took place in Doha, Qatar. The other was here in Pretoria. The first was the successful conclusion of the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, representing 142 countries, which now, and of major importance, include the People's Republic of China. The second was the publication by our Department of Education of the "Report on the School Register of Needs: 2000 Survey."

The Ministerial Declaration issued at the end of the WTO Conference contained some important observations. Below I quote some of these observations. The Ministers stated: "We recognise the need for all our peoples to benefit from the increased opportunities and welfare gains that the multilateral trading system generates. The majority of WTO Members are developing countries. We seek to place their needs and interests at the heart of the Work Programme adopted in the Declaration."

The Ministers then went on to say: "We are committed to addressing the marginalisation of least-developed countries in international trade and to improving their effective participation in the multilateral trading system."

These undertakings oblige the world's premier organisation that sets the rules for international trade, the WTO, to ensure that in its final agreements, it works to realise the objectives contained in the passages we have quoted. What is reflected in these passages constitutes the essence of the mandate of the delegation that our country sent to Doha. I am therefore proud to extend to our WTO delegation warm congratulations for the success it achieved.

I say this not as a formality. The truth is that the appropriate words we should use to describe the performance of our delegation are - excellent and outstanding! It played an important role in producing the positive result of the Doha Development Agenda.

In this regard, I would like to say something about the composition and the functioning of our delegation. Led by our Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, supported by Minister Thoko Didiza and Deputy Minister Lindiwe Hendricks, the delegation was one of the few composed of all social partners. It included government, the trade unions, business and the non-governmental sector. This was its first distinctive feature. This means that we can truly say that it represented the people of South Africa.

True to our national character, it was a rainbow delegation, reflecting our different races and colours, a miniature United Nations. It also addressed our national imperative of striving to create a non-sexist society. It therefore had a good complement of women delegates and not just secretarial support.

In its functioning, the delegation worked as one integrated unit and not as a federation of separate entities. Its work centred on what we strive everyday to achieve - the reconstruction and development of South Africa, Africa and the rest of the developing world, and the restructuring of the relations between the North and the South.

The delegation demonstrated our capacity to engage in hard-nosed negotiations with all countries of the world, including the most developed, to advance the eminently just and humane perspectives enunciated in our Constitution and policy positions. It operated in a manner that demonstrated our capacity to live up to the requirement that as public representatives, we have to serve the people of South Africa.

I must also state here that all of us should be very proud of the role played by the rest of Africa. Apart from the critical role played by other African Ministers, Africa intervened decisively to determine whether the Conference succeeded or failed. Our united Continent spoke at the 11th hour in favour of success.

What we have been saying, that Africa's peoples are set to claim the 21st century as their own, was expressed in a very practical way in Doha, in the presence of the rest of the nations of the world. Let me now mention some of the matters that will be discussed during the Doha Development Round.

One of these concerns international trade in agricultural products. Critical in this regard, is access of our products into the food markets of the developed countries, some of which continue to subside their own agriculture in a context that verges on intellectual, economic and social obscenity and brutal selfishness.

Another related to manufactured goods originating from the developing countries. The Ministerial Declaration states that, in this regard, the negotiations will focus "in particular on products of export interest to developing countries. Product coverage shall be comprehensive and without a priori exclusions."

Yet another decision related to the issue of health and affordable drugs and medicines, on which we have focused since 1994 and about which we continue to be vilified. In this regard the Ministers said: "We stress the importance we attach to implementation and interpretation of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) in a manner supportive of public health."

The Ministers also addressed the important question of the capacity of the developing countries to intervene meaningfully within the globalisation process. They stated that they "confirm that technical cooperation and capacity building are core elements of the development dimension of the multilateral trading system."

The Ministers also attended to the critical matter of the effect of the global financial markets on the developing countries, including the debt question.

They resolved to examine "the relationship between trade, debt and finance, and of any possible recommendations on steps that might be taken to enhance the capacity of the multilateral trading system to contribute to a durable solution to the problem of external indebtedness of developing and least-developed countries, and to strengthen the coherence of international trade and financial policies, with a view to safeguarding the multilateral trading system from the effects of financial and monetary stability."

When I speak of the success achieved by our delegation and continent in Doha, these are only some of the achievements to which I refer. It is this Agenda that makes it possible for me to say that we are, indeed, well set to engage in a Development Round of negotiations.

We must also be very proud that our latest School Register of Needs shows that we have made important advances since the first Register was published in 1996. We will note only a few of our achievements in this regard.

We now have a larger number of schools than we had in 1996. Learners with special educational needs alone had 120 additional schools, adding to the 270 they had in 1996. We have fewer learners per classroom, signifying less congestion.

The number of computers in our schools has quadrupled since 1996. In that year, 60.6 per cent of our schools had no telephones, as compared to 35.5 in 2000. In 1996, 41.8 percent of our schools had access to electricity. Last year this had risen to 57.1 percent.

The proportion of schools without access to clean water has dropped from 34.1 to 27.3 per cent. The percentage of schools without toilets decreased from 12.2 to 9.2 per cent.

In his Foreword to the Register, Education Minister Asmal, also reflecting the views of Deputy Minister Mangena, correctly observes that "the (1996) Register proved to be an invaluable tool in this democratic government's drive to accelerate the delivery of electrification, water and sanitation, and telecommunications provision in the schooling sector."

This enabled government as a whole, in all its spheres, to respond to all the challenges indicated by the 1996 Register. The latest Register indicates what has still to be done, with all of us acting together, including the business community and the people themselves. We continue to have an important infrastructure backlog that we must continue to confront.

Of course, there are other issues that we have to address with regard to our schools and our educational system as a whole. However, what has happened with regard to School Needs, whatever remains to be done, illustrates that our common victory is certain, provided that we continue to concentrate on the objective of achieving universal quality education.

Doha and Pretoria are geographically far apart from each other. Yet, during the same week, they focused on the same question of ending poverty, underdevelopment, marginalisation and dehumanisation.

In their interconnection they communicate the message that we belong to a global village. They tell us that we will not thrive within this village unless we are properly educated and endowed with the necessary skills. They say to us that even as life circumscribes the limits of our sovereignty, it obliges us to make our impact on the emerging system of global governance.

Unlike the WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle, USA, the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, was not brought to a standstill and aborted by mass demonstrations. This illustrated the correct relationship between negotiations and mass action, with neither being presented as the Alpha and the Omega, which we know from our own experience as being the correct strategic balance.

As the Ministers met in Doha, they were conscious of the view expressed by many in the world, that the process of globalisation, of which the WTO is an expression, should not result in further suffering for the masses of the ordinary people everywhere in the world. They knew that any global process of development should not merely benefit small elites within and among countries.

Rather, the resources available within the world economy should be used to restore the dignity of all human beings everywhere in the world. Doha agreed on a global Agenda to help achieve this objective. Pretoria demonstrated what can be done, within countries, to translate this Agenda into reality.

Violence against women

An obstacle to South Africa's freedom

The struggle to end violence against women in South Africa is central to national liberation. South Africans cannot be free as long as women are vulnerable to abuse, rape and murder.

While it is difficult to arrive at reliable statistics, the Department of Justice, in a 1997 report, estimated that one in four women is a survivor of domestic violence. Different studies suggest that between 40 and 50 percent of all women murdered in South Africa were killed by their husband or partner.

South Africans are marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November by marches and awareness-raising activities around the country. The day marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism, which is used world-wide to raise awareness about violence against women, address policy and legal issues, campaign for the protection of survivors of violence and call for the elimination of all forms of gender violence. The 16 days ends on International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Violence against women must be fought at many levels. The unequal power relations between men and women in society and at home lies at the heart of this violence. These power relations are the result of social attitudes, certain cultural practices, unequal access to opportunities - like education and employment - and the close relationship in South Africa between gender oppression and oppression on the basis of race and class. The role of power relations explains also why children are also frequently victims of sexual and other violence, being relatively powerless and vulnerable.

It is necessary therefore to challenge social attitudes which makes the rights and needs of women subject to the will of men, whether their spouse or partner. The right of women to equality, to freedom and security of person, and to the other freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights, needs to be asserted and defended.

It is important that men are at the forefront of this campaign, challenging through their statements and action those men who abuse women, and who assume that to do so is a natural prerogative.

Violence against women is the result also of the high levels of violence within society generally. The apartheid system was maintained by violence directed against the people of South Africa. Between 1984 and 1993, political violence alone claimed more than 18,000 lives. Half of these deaths occurred after 1990. There were more insidious forms of violence resulting from the social displacement caused by the migrant labour system, the dispossession of land, and the economic hardships experienced by black South Africans.

The former South African Police and other security forces were designed to protect apartheid, not people. The apartheid state instead encouraged violence by setting up and arming vigilante groups, operating police hit squads and recruiting criminals to act against the liberation movement and the people. There was no tradition of proper crime fighting, community liaison or human rights in the security services.

Since 1994, much progress has been made in changing this. A single police service has been established from the eleven previously separate police forces, police training has improved, and the police service has been demilitarised and reoriented towards serving the community better.

The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) has been implemented, which involves a shift from seeing crime as a purely security issue towards crime as a social issue requiring a wide range of preventative measures.

There have also been special initiatives within the police service, the prosecuting authority and the courts to better tackle sexual offences, including improved facilities for survivors of sexual violence. These initiatives increase the likelihood of successful prosecutions and reduce the opportunity for 'secondary victimisation'.

The fight against violence against women has been strengthened by the Domestic Violence Act, which came into operation in 1999. The law introduced a criminal justice policy to cater for the special needs of women and children, including more effective mechanisms for obtaining protection against abusive spouses, partners or close relatives. Much work must still be done however to make women aware of the law, and improve the capacity of the police and courts to effectively implement it.

While there can be no excuse for violence against women - abusers must bear full responsibility for their crimes - there are factors which can increase the vulnerability of women to violence. In South Africa, poverty is one such factor.

An article which appeared in NGO Matters in August 1997 cited evidence to show that African women, who are the poorest sector of society, are more than ten times more likely to experience an incidence of violence compared to their white counterparts. Economic vulnerability limits women's chances to change their situation when confronted with violence.

"Poverty-stricken women, and particularly those in rural areas, are often financially dependent, have limited access to employment and are unsupported mothers who must fulfil the role of caregiver. As a result they have few alternatives and options if they wish to leave a violent situation or community. On top of this, in most impoverished areas in South Africa, women have limited access to health, education, social, psychological and legal services," it said.

In many instances, abused women are financially dependent on the abuser, not being employed themselves or having insufficient skills. This is particularly the case where women fear the effects on their children's material security and well-being.

The eradication of poverty, already a national priority, must therefore feature as one of the main weapons in the struggle against violence against women. Initiatives like the Integrated Rural Development Programme and Urban Renewal Strategy will have a significant impact on the lives of poor women in rural and urban areas, as will other government programmes to promote small, medium and micro business; community-based public works programmes; and industrial development zones.

Local development can also play a role. The design and development of community infrastructure, especially street lights, buildings and public transport, can contribute to the safety of a community, particularly women, children and the aged. Adequate street lighting, for example, can effectively cut down on crimes against women outside of the home, as can the strategic placement of bus stops or taxi ranks.

Improving the life possibilities of the girl child today is one of the most important ways of ending violence against women in the future. The provision of water and electricity to poor households, for example, substantially reduces the amount of time required for basic household work. This not only improves the position of adult women, but also girl children, who are often required to shoulder domestic responsibilities from an early age.

Enrolment in schools generally has increased dramatically since 1994. South Africa's participation rate for girls is currently among the highest in the world. The challenge remains to ensure greater numbers of female learners complete their secondary education and proceed to higher education. Of the 180,000 learners currently in state supported adult basic education and training programmes, about 100,000 are women.

Before being designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly, 25 November had been marked in Latin America as a day against violence against women. It originally marked the day in 1960 when the three Mirabel sisters were assassinated in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship.

MORE INFORMATION:

• 'Preventing violence against women', WomensNet
• Information on violence against women, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation

Road safety

Stopping the Christmas killer, all year round

The national effort to tackle death and injury on South Africa's roads was taken to new heights this week with the release of a multi-pronged, multi-year strategy to address the major causes of accidents.

The Road to Safety 2001-2005, a plan unveiled by Transport Minister Dullah Omar, relies on a broad range of statistics to analyse the main reasons for the country's relatively high road death toll. The strategy outlines short and medium-term projects to respond to each of these factors. The short-term projects are already underway or about to start. These include:

• attacking inefficiency, fraud and corruption in the driver licensing and vehicle registration and testing systems;
• introducing a new computerised learners licence test;
• promoting regulation and self-regulation in the road freight and public passenger transport system;
• combating overloading on the national road network;
• developing community-driven pedestrian safety education.

The Road to Safety builds on government's Arrive Alive campaign, which has achieved much in recent years by creating better awareness of road safety and co-ordinating inter-governmental enforcement of road laws.

The achievements of the Arrive Alive campaign were underlined this year by a further substantial decline in the number of road crashes and road deaths over the 2000/1 festive season. The campaign is now focusing on sustaining such reductions year-round.

There are about six million licensed drivers and 6,7 million registered vehicles on South Africa's road. There are currently around half a million traffic accidents a year, of which 28,000 lead to death or serious injury. The total cost of these crashes to the economy is estimated at around R13.8 billion.

The strategy plans to urgently introduce greater efficiency and consistent standards into the driver licence testing system. "Bad drivers kill people. Untrained and unlicensed drivers are bad drivers," according to Omar. The Driving Licence Inspectorate estimates that up to half of all licences currently entered into the Driving Licence Register may be licences issued or obtained in an irregular manner.

Twenty-one million rand has been allocated to upgrading the 20 percent of test centres that are not compliant with minimum standards. Additional measures are being introduced to tackle corruption in driver licence and vehicle testing and registration.

"Driver licence fraud puts incompetent drivers on our roads. When it is present in the public passenger transport sector it directly puts thousands of lives at risk. But it also leads to a loss of revenue and places an unacceptable strain on our health services and the economy as a whole. We are determined to stamp it out," Omar said.

The department would also enter into formal negotiations with transport operators associations, unions and commuter organisations to improve regulation in the road freight and public passenger transport industry.

To promote pedestrian safety all nine provinces are mandated to work with local government and communities to implement a rolling programme of identification and prioritisation of hazardous pedestrian locations and the application of multidisciplinary solutions.

The effectiveness of the strategy will not only rest with the government departments and agencies responsible for implementing it, but also with the drivers and pedestrians of South Africa. "Road safety touches all of us. If we can go away from here determined to build the partnerships that we need and draw many thousands of new people into what we are convinced is a winnable battle, we will truly find ourselves embarked on the road to safety," Omar said.

MORE INFORMATION:

• The Road to Safety 2001-2005, Department of Transport

Return to Index