1. The Gender Focal Point is a fully - fledged sub section in the Equal Opportunities Chief Directorate (EOCD). The EOCD is located at level 2 in the Defence Head Quarters. See the attached organogram in the power Point presentation.

2. The Gender Focal Point is staffed by the following personnel:

1. X1 SSO Gender Equivalence of Deputy Director.
2. X1 SO1 Military Equivalence of Assistant Director
3. X1 SO1 PSAP Equivalence of Assistant Director.
4. X1 Administrative Officer Level 8.
5. X1 Chief Clerk Level 7.

3. The Gender Focal Point engages with the Council on Defence, Secretary for Defence, Plenary Defence Staff Council and the Daily Staff Council depending on the nature of the issue to be presented for approval.

4. At level 3 and 4 of the Department the Gender Focal Point engages with all the various Service and Division Chiefs through their Gender Forum Representatives. Each Service and Division Chief has appointed a Gender Forum representative to represent them in the Gender Forum that meets once every month.

5. The objectives of the Gender Focal Point are to:

1. Promote Gender awareness in the Department.
2. Conduct and co-ordinate Gender training in the Department.
3. Market and promote Gender Policies in the Department.
4. Monitor DOD programmes and Policies whether they are constant with the Gender policy.

 

5. Monitor DOD statistics for Gender representivity.

6. Gender Forum. In 1998 the Gender Focal Point established a Gender Forum to assist the Gender machinery execute the Gender objectives in the lower levels of the DOD. To give mandate to the Gender Forum, the Gender Focal Point drafted a constitution for the forum and presented it to the Plenary Defence Staff Council for approval. The objectives of the Gender Forum are to:

a. Ensure the Services and Divisions implement the Gender policy.

b. Ensure the budget of Services and Divisions is engendered.

c. Conduct Gender training in Services and Divisions.

d. Ensure Gender mainstreaming in Services and Divisions.

7. The Gender Focal Point reports to the following structures depending on the nature of the matter at hand:

1. Secretary of Defence (Director General) through the Chief Director Equal

Opportunities.

2. Chief of the SANDF.

8. Policies. The Gender Focal Point has formulated several policies to facilitate the attainment of objectives in the Department of Defence. Some of these policies were formulated in conjunction with other relevant stake holders in the Department that deal with Gender related issues on the ground such as the Social Work Directorate. Example of the policies referred to:

1. Sexual Harassment Policy.
2. Gender Based Violence Policy.
3. The Gender Equity policy and the Pregnancy policy are still in a draft state.

9. To facilitate the implementation of policies the following programmes have been put in place.

1. Gender Training Programme. These programmes have been put

in place to create capacity building ito equipping members of the DOD

with skills and also increasing their knowledge on Gender related

matters eg Women in Law Courses and Sexual Harassment training.

2. Hotline. The EOCD has initiated a hotline in conjunction with the Military

Police Agency (MPA) for the purpose of reporting cases of Sexual Harassment and Gender based Violence in the Department. Currently the EOCD identified an agency that is conducting Sexual Harassment training for members of the MPA who will be working on the hotline. The benefit of this hotline is that the DOD will be able to measure the degree to which Sexual Harassment and Gender based Violence are a problem in the Department so that improvements on the existing measures to curb the practice can be made.

3. Gender Awareness Campaign. Occasions such as the South African

Women's Day and the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children are used to highlight the plight and ill effects of Violence

Against Women and Children and emphasize the need to support and

promote Gender Equality in the society at large. The Peace Table Seminar is

another campaign that is used to advocate for more involvement of Women in

peace initiatives in the continent..

4. Gender Sensitization Programmes. The Gender Focal Point conducts Gender Presentations and Road shows in order to maximize understanding of the DOD Gender Policies to members of the Department. The Gender sensitization programmes target both the senior and middle management of the DOD as well as the lower ranks of the organization.
5. South African Women's Day. Women in the Department of Defence celebrate

this day to increase awareness among members of the DOD on the importance of Gender Empowerment and Equity.

6. The Peace Table Seminar. The Peace Table Seminar is the initiative of the

10. Budget for the Work of The Gender Focal Point. At level 2 of the DOD the budget is engendered to facilitate the work of the Gender Focal Point. The Gender Focal Point is allocated funds according to its costed objectives for the financial year. The overall budget for the EOCD for the financial year 2003/2004 is R101168214.00. The Gender Focal Point was allocated R89211.00. However the challenge facing the Gender Focal Point is to ensure that both Services and Divisions also budget for Gender activities in their respective areas of wok .in order that Gender objectives are executed at all levels in the Department.

11. The DOD Gender Focal Point is becoming a bench mark for some countries in Africa and internationally. The following countries have requested the DOD Gender Focal Point to assist their Defence Forces establish Gender Focal Points.

1. Namibia.
2. Botswana.
3. Nigeria.

12. North Korea, Portugal and Pakistan have requested for information on the status of Gender in the DOD.

Chairperson JMC (National Assembly) (Attention: Ms M.L S Xingwana)

OSW

All State Departments.

CDEO (Attention: Maj Gen P.R.F. Sedibe)

Dir EO Policy and Plans (Attention: Brig Gen A.S.Somdaka)

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