6 September 1995
The Fourth World Conference on Women is happening at a time of total transformation within South Africa. Every institution in society, every sector of government, is reconsidering its policies and programmes in the light of the new Constitution and the overarching Reconstruction and Development Programme of the Government of National Unity.
In particular, the Constitution guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law. It also protects persons against discrimination on
"one or more of the following grounds: race, gender, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture or language."
This forms the basis for a reassessment of women's position in society and the best possible mechanisms for achieving an equal balance in access to power, resources and human dignity for women and men. In the words of President Mandela,
... freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression. All of us must take this on board that the objectives of the Reconstruction and Development Programme will not have been realised unless we see in visible and practical terms that the condition of the women of our country has radically changed for the better, and that they have been empowered to intervene in all aspects of life as equals with any other member of society. (State of the Nation Address, May 1994)
As I stand here today, the overarching mechanisms for this are under national debate, as are the specific policies and Programmes in each ministry.
With the publishing of policy proposals, most Ministries have held workshops with non-governmental organisations and community- based organisations in order to get people's input. This extensive process of consultation is, in itself, one of the central mechanisms for ensuring women's voices are heard in the process of transformation.
Organisations of civil society have also initiated their own policy development processes and are using these to lobby government at all levels. Most notable in this regard was the development of a Women's Charter for Effective Equality which was developed through detailed local-level consultations with women during 1993, and sets out the necessary changes in every field of life. This gave substantial impetus to the women's movement, and the recognition that gender equality must be dealt with in all tiers of government.
South Africa's transformation is being undertaken by both government and citizens, and the role of community based and non- governmental organisations in this cannot be overstressed.
In relation to the critical areas identified in the Draft Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women, South Africa has made some major strides, although in most cases, we are still at the level of policy formulation rather than implementation. In brief, we have committed ourselves to tackling the following areas:
ENABLING WOMEN TO OVERCOME POVERTY
The Government of National Unity is committed to enabling women to overcome poverty by directing resources towards facilitating women's participation in identifying development needs, planning development programmes, and implementing these, whether in relation to economic development, infrastructure or social services. It is engaged in aprocess of setting new priorities for national spending which are take account of the urgent need to improve women's economic and social status. In particular, it is committed to the allocation of public expenditures to promote women's economic opportunities and equal access to productive resources.
One of the key areas identified as limiting women's capacity to overcome poverty is lack of access and rights to land. A Working Group on Women's Rights in the Department of Land Affairs has been mandated to examine the system of customary land tenure and land administration; to investigate steps that need to be taken to extend equal rights in land and enjoyment of land related support programmes to all women; and to investigate methods for improving women's position in respect of their rights in land within a land reform programme. These findings will be implemented within a national land reform programme, and the Working Group has the task of monitoring the impact of this reform programme on the social and economic status of women. The Welfare White Paper is addressing questions of poverty alleviation by reviewing existing mechanisms of social security, specifically maintenance and family grants in order on the one hand to remove the present systems which are racially discriminatory, while developing sustainable alternatives. A wide range of mechanisms for promoting the capacity of communities and families to overcome poverty are under urgent investigation with a view to implementation within the next year. As a start, there is no taxation on basic foodstuffs.
ACCESS TO EDUCATION
The Education White Paper acknowledges its enormous potential influence on gender relations and the career paths of women and men. It also acknowledges the current 'worrying disparities' between the progress of girls and boys and the existence of unfair discrimination and ill-treatment. Further, it acknowledges the sexism and male chauvinism exhibited by staff and students across the range of educational institutions.
The White Paper envisages the establishment of a Gender Equity Unit with the Department which would be responsible for providing advice, identifying solutions, proposing guidelines and strategies, and liaising with stakeholders on issues connected with gender relations.
This results in a government commitment to ensuring that those developing the core curriculum address all subjects in a gender sensitive manner.
The first step in achieving education for all came at the beginning of this year when school was made [free and] compulsory for all children.
The core curriculum for schools now incorporates life-skills and sexuality education for school children to increase young people's capacity to cope with life's stresses, to challenge gender inequity, to avoid girls' dropping out of school because of teenage pregnancies and to build their capacity to plan their futures.
The new model of education will create a flow between school and adult education and training programmes for lifelong learning in order to facilitate transitions between people's activities at all stages of their lives. (84a,b; 90c) Amongst others, this will meet the urgent needs of out of school youth.
The government is also committed to meeting the needs of teachers for ongoing training.
ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
The first step in tackling maternal and child mortality came directly after the change of government with the declaration of free health services for pregnant women and children under six.
In addition, a national feeding scheme for school children was set up in order to prevent the devastating impact of malnutrition on children and their education.
An essential drugs list is being finalised at the moment.
The major thrust of the health service is to set up a comprehensive primary health care system, financed through a national health insurance. Based on a district health system, the process of transformation incorporates women in identifying priorities for change. A national programme to reorient health workers to understand the overall primary health care approach and to be sensitive to user's needs is underway.
Access to sexual and reproductive health information is being tackled through a number of programmes. In particular, there is a specific focus on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases generally through both information and services. In addition, most provinces have set up women and children or reproductive health sections to ensure the integration of family planning into comprehensive reproductive health services and are in the process of transforming their services to meet women, men and young people's needs. Adolescents already have the right to access contraception without parental consent and the government is committed to developing further mechanisms for ensuring adolescents can achieve reproductive rights and health. The extension of obstetric care is also being given priority. An ad- hoc committee of Parliament has reviewed the existing abortion laws and taken written and oral submissions from the public in this regard. In the light of the negative impact of illegal, unsafe abortions on women's health, they have recommended that women should be able to have abortions on request up to 14 weeks of pregnancy; after which this would be subject to specific conditions. The matter is being put before Parliament. A task team has agreed in principle on the need for a national cervical screening programme, and pilot projects will soon be underway. Moreover the inclusion of women's health in the curriculum is also under investigation.
There are a range of NGO and health worker networks participating in policy development and programme design in these fields. The government is committed to increasing health literacy through a substantial health promotion programme.
Mental health is being incorporated into primary health care services.
Campaigns against both child abuse and drug abuse have been initiated as has a campaign highlighting the dangers of cigarette smoking.
ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
The problems of domestic and criminal violence are high on our national agenda, both on the part of government and NGOs. Recent legislation has improved mechanisms for tackling domestic violence but there is still much to be done. Training of police, judges and other officials in handling cases involving rape in a gender sensitive manner has recently begun. Government is committed to the establishment of shelters to protect women who have been subjected to violence, and to making legal services and more woman-friendly personnel available to such women. This includes a more concerted effort to ensure the arrest and sentencing of perpetrators. It is committed to running a national campaign, with NGOs and others, to raise awareness about violence against women and contribute to its elimination. This campaign will begin with a major conference later this year.
The Government of National Unity will ratify all international treaties which prohibit traffiking in women, and set up mechanisms for their enforcement. It is also committed to preventing the abuse of women through genital mutilation.
ADVANCE PEACE AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CONFLICT ON WOMEN
Particularly in the light of our devastating experience of civil war, the Government of National Unity is committed to creating an environment which promotes and maintains peace and human rights, including the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Moreover we are committing to involving of women in these processes as well as in planning assistance for women regugees to ensure their safety and health. The government will ensure the promotion and protection of the social and civil rights of those women who have been internally displaced due to armed conflict.
EQUALITY IN PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY
The government commits itself to taking positive action to facilitate women's equal access to resources, employment, markets and trade, including enhancing rural women's income-generating potential by facilitating access to and control over productive resources. In particular, it is committed to setting up mechanisms for enhancing women's access to credit, and to promoting the involvement of financial institutions in this regard.
Efforts to facilitate more open and transparent budget processes are underway in order that the process of setting new priorities can be a matter open to public scrutiny and lobbying.
Women do have some representation in the national economic bargaining forum but this needs to be expanded.
Systems of taxation are under review and discrimination against married women has already been removed.
While there is already legislation regarding occupational health and safety and legislation on workers' rights is under parliamentary review at the moment, the government commits itself to setting up mechanisms to ensure the implementation of this legislation.
The trade unions have had substantial successes in gaining recognition of parental rights of workers and specifically the guarantee of pregnant women's rights to return to work. The government commits itself to further enhancing the rights of women workers, particularly to prevent discriminiation against pregnant women workers, and to work with NGOs to meet the needs of parents and children for child care facilities.
INEQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING
At present, South Africa has one of the highest percentages of women parliamentarians in the world. This reflects policy of the ANC rather than any regulation or legislation in this regard. It has, however, set a new tone for women's participation in political decision-making and placed this question firmly on the agenda.
The public service is committed to affirmative action in relation to both race and gender and women are slowly taking positions of leadership. The best mechanisms for generating gender sensitivity within the public service both in its approach to programmes and in its make-up are still under investigation.
The government commits itself to ensuring that women are appointed to represent South Africa both within the United Nations and in other international forums.
Government also commits itself to publishing statistics on levels of employment of women in government.
The entire question of promoting women's access to resources and their involvement in decision-making at all levels of society is being taken up by all stakeholders in a wide range of ways. From the private sector to NGOs to the media to government, women's right to equal participation is being asserted and activities from assertiveness to career training programmes to specific gender policies to lobbying are all happening. Young women have begun to organise themselves into a national network which makes their needs and demands more visible.
In addition, a national data base of women's NGOs has recently been launched, and the media and others are playing an important role in publicising women who are playing a significant role in the country.
Organisations of disabled people have mobilised and won government committment to form a specific unit charged with ensuring an end to discrimination, based in the office of the President.
Moreover, funds have been allocated to ensure disabled people have access to employment, health care, education, vocational training, support services and rehabilitation and to support the full participation by women with disabilities in society.
The preparatory process for this Conference was an integrated part of this process towards equalising women's position in society and we hope that the large delegation of South African NGOs to this Conference will build their confidence and give them new ideas about how to take forward the struggle for women's rights.
MECHANISMS TO PROMOTE THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN
In addition to all the steps taken by government, NGOs, the private sector and others since the change of government, the constitution stipulated that an office on the Status of Women in the President's Office to oversee women's empowerment activities and coordinate such activities with the gender desks within each government sector. These aim to ensure their own policies and programmes take account of gender inequity, and specifically promote women's access to and decision-making over resources.
In addition, legislation is underway to set up a Commission for Gender Equity to ensure transformation and to monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes intended to achieve gender equity as part of our commitment to achieving human rights. Most provinces have already set up Gender Commissions to play this overarching role. The government commits itself to the promulgation of a sex discrimination act and other legislation that will ensure the effectiveness of this Commission.
A national meeting to plan for the implmentation of our commitments made at this Conference is planned for later this year. It will finalise the mechanisms described here.
Local government elections take place in November this year, for the first time since the government of national unity was elected, and will provide a key indicator of the extent of commitment to women's equal participation in decision-making, as well as the most fundamental challenge to community, and specifically women's participation in the policy-making and programme implementation processes.
Mechanisms for monitoring the progress and representation of women in all levels of decision-making as well as all relevant indicators of changes in women's social status and are being considered as part of the development of national management information systems.
In addition to this programme to improve government's capacity to monitor its progress in relation to all of these commitments, the country has high expectations of the next census, in 1996, in terms of providing gender disaggregated data to provide a base-line from which to measure change. The government commits itself to making such information available in an accessible way.
There is a healthy independent research movement based both in the universities and NGOs. The government is committed to supporting these through ensuring their access to funding and specifically to funding for research in relation to all the commitments made here.
COMMITMENT TO THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS BY WOMEN
South Africa's commitment to human rights is embedded in the present process of transformation. Every policy and programme, every institution, whether of government or civil society, is under scrutiny from a human rights perspective. A Human Rights Commission has been set up, as stipulated by the Constitution, to monitor all policies and programmes of the government from a human rights perspective, and to intervene where necessary. Human rights are considered to include women's rights. They also include the sexual and reproductive rights of women, men and young people. In addition, the right to protection from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is enshrined in the interim Constitution.
Training in human rights is increasingly being undertaken both within government, for example amongst the police, and in civil society. The government is committed to setting up programmes to inform the public, including those who are illiterate, about their rights and the mechanisms available to them to realise these in their daily lives. This includes informing the public about the international treaties to which we are committed. The government will pay special attention to those who are already most at risk of human rights abuses, such as refugees, displaced and disabled women.
ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
The broadcasting media, was, until the change of government almost wholly controlled by government. A new Board was set up through public interviews, including a woman chairperson and women board members. In the interests of promoting media independence, an Independent Broadcasting Authority was set up with responsibility for creating greater access of communities to broadcasting licences; there has so far, however, been very limited response from communities in relation to meeting women's needs. A broadcasting complaints commission has been set up, with representation of women. The print media remains almost wholly owned and run by men. An NGO media monitoring project monitors media content, including on gender.
The government is committed to freedom of expression and will therefore not interfere in the programming of the media. NGOs, however, commit themselves to campaigning for the media, advertising agencies and others to commit themselves to self- regulation in order to prevent the projection of violence against women and children. Moreover the government commits itself to campaigning for and educating the public about women's rights and gender equality
WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Women have long been involved in environmental management as individuals responsible for domestic survival, and through development organisations and networks. The government is committed to facilitating greater access of women to decision- making in this regard. Women's access to basic infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation and electricity are being given highest priority by the government of national unity.
Since lack of access to water is one of the key causes of illness and women's overwork, in its efforts to plan the extension of water supply, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has made a commitment to a minimum quota of one third women for Local Water Committees and all other institutions responsible for water supply, since at the moment these bodies are dominated by men. Likewise they are holding a conference later this year on Women and Forestry to mobilise and provide support for women's increased participation in forestry and related policies and programmes.
The government is committed to facilitating women's access to information in order to reduce their exposure to risks from environmental hazards, and to increase their capacity to participate in environmental decision-making. It is also committed to facilitating the involvement of communities in identifying priorities and managing environmental programmes.
SURVIVAL PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE GIRL CHILD
In keeping with its human rights commitment, the government is taking steps to protect children from abuse of any kind, and to preventing discrimination and abuse of girld children. This commitment is being integrated into all of the programmes described above.
Labour legislation prevents child labour, and the government commits itself to setting up mechanisms to ensure the enforcement of this legislation - the provision of free schooling being a first step in this regard, as is the commitment to eradicate violence against women. Here the school system is a particular focus, as are those professionals responsible for supporting children who have been abused.
The Department of Welfare is committed to strengthening the capacity of families and communities to support children and help them develop to their full potential, including challenging the devaluation of girls.
CONCLUSION
In relation to all the commitments which we have made, the Government of National Unity will ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Political Rights of Women within a year.
It also commits itself to supporting and working with NGOs in both research and programmes to meet our shared goals and to ensuring that these commitments are monitored and evaluated in an ongoing way through gender impact studies.
This brief indication of how South Africa will give priority to the critical areas of concern in the Platform of Action reflects our absolute commitment to improving the social, political and economic status of women in South Africa. We have taken dramatic strides in the 16 months since elections, and intend to keep up this pace so that, at long last, South Africa can become a beacon of light in the international movement for women's human rights.
Delivered by Dr Nkosazana Zuma
Beijing