ATC140407: Report of the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus on its activities undertaken during the 4th Parliament (May 2009 – March 2014)
NCOP Women, Children and People with Disabilities
Report of the Multi-Party Womens Caucus on its activities undertaken during the 4th Parliament (May 2009 March 2014)
Key highlights
1. Overview of Multi-Party Womens Caucus
In the period between 2009 and 2010, whiles under National Assembly Tables, MPWC championed the fight of Ukuthwala in collaboration with the Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Justice. After the re-launch of Multi-Party Womens Caucus (MPWC) in 2011, it was provided with resources which include an operating budget, and a secretariat comprising a Committee Secretary, Executive Secretary and a researcher. As a funded, fully-functional committee under Committees Section, the MPWC was allocated a dedicated timeslot i.e. between 12:30 and 14:30 on Wednesdays. Both the MPWC and its steering committee met twice a month. The knowledge and skills gained enable Members to carry out their parliamentary duties such as legislative drafting, oversight and facilitating public participation from a gendered perspective. The MPWC must ensure that women are not only represented within Parliament, but that they have access to real decision-making influence. In mainstreaming gender issues the Caucus consults with relevant Portfolio and Select Committees on legislation and oversight obligations that could have an impact on womens lives.
2. Focus areas over the period under review
In the period between 2009 to 2014, the MPWC focused on developing a program that would ensure the representation of the views and interests of women members of Parliament; the introduction of a gendered perspective to parliamentary activities through gender-focussed training and development activities; the building of networks with other women-focused formations in provincial legislatures, government departments and civil society organisations; close cooperation with the Portfolio and Select committees on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities; and the mainstreaming of Millennium Development Goals.
3. Key areas for future work
3.1 The MPWC should proceed with evaluating the implementation of MDGs within provinces so as to ascertain whether South Africa would be able to meet 2015 goals.
3.2 The MPWC should launch MPWCs in those provinces and district municipalities that have not yet established such structures.
3.3 The MPWC should ensure that plans and programmes for the Womens Parliament are programme-based and not events-based; and
3.4 Womens Day should not be a celebration for one day, but rather a developmental programme spanning the entire term of the 5 th Parliament.
4. Key challenges emerging
4.1 The limited budget allocated to the MPWC had resulted in it not meeting all its objectives.
4.2 The limited time allocated to the MPWC impacted on the reaching of objectives.
4.3 The fact that the MPWC was not able to undertake a study tour impacted on its activities and establishment.
4.4 Non-active participation of members of Parliament further impacted on the robustness of debates and discussions.
5. Recommendations
5.1 The MPWC should facilitate the establishment of Provincial and District Caucuses taking into consideration provincial context.
5.2 The MPWC should prioritise facilitating continued engagements around climate change.
5.3 Priority should be given to capacitating members as far as gender mainstreaming, gender tools and gender budgeting.
5.4 Closer ties should be established with relevant committees, especially the Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, as the partnership will ensure coordinated efforts towards empowering not ordinary women, but also women Members of Parliament tasked with representing their interests.
· 5.5 The MPWCs programme should be aligned with the Parliamentary programme. This would require engagement with the programming committee and the Office of House Chairperson: Committees and ICT.
1. Introduction
1.1 Department/s and Entities falling within the committees portfolio
MPWC neither have departments nor entities falling within it but it worked with some Institutions Supporting Democracy, Civil Societies, South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Progressive Women of South Africa, Commission on Gender Equality, Humans Rights Commission, Human Science Research Council, Heinrich Boll, Mosaic, Sisters Incorporated, Triangle Project, Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT).
1.2 Functions of Multi-Party Womens Caucus (MPWC):
The MPWC mandate is derived from Joint Rule 137 of Parliament, which states that the Multi Party Womens Caucus acts as an advisory, influencing and consultative body by:
· representing the interests and concerns of women Members of Parliament ;
· promoting the discussion of womens issues in Parliament;
· making submissions to the relevant committees;
· introducing a womens perspective and focus in Parliamentary activities , including in the programming of debates ; and
· engaging on developmental and empowerment issues with women in political structures outside Parliament and women Members of Parliaments Internationally ; and considering any other matter within its mandate referred to it by either House.
1.3 Method of work
1.3.1 The MPWC comprises all women Members of Parliament, from all parties, in both Houses of Parliament. It has both a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, who are elected by the Caucus at the beginning of the Parliamentary term. Given that over 40% of Parliamentary seats are held by women (which translates to about 166 Members of the Caucus), it was deemed necessary to establish a Steering Committee to provide strategic guidance to the work of the committee.
1.3.2 The steering committee is also a multi-party committee, and it took a decision of including the chairpersons of both the Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities. As a funded, functional committee, the Caucus is allocated a timeslot to meet twice a month. Steering committee meetings take place in the weeks that the Caucus does not sit.
1.4 Purpose of the report
1.4.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an account of the MPWC work during the 4 th Parliament and to inform the members of the new Parliament of key outstanding issues pertaining to the strategic plan of the caucus and its collaborators.
1.4.2 This report provides an overview of the activities the committee undertook during the 4 th Parliament, the outcome of key activities, as well as any challenges that emerged during the period under review and issues that should be considered for follow up during the 5 th Parliament. It summarises the key issues for follow-up and concludes with recommendations to strengthen future operational processes.
2. Key statistics
The table below provides an overview of the number of meetings and workshops conducted by MPWC during the 4 th Parliament:
|
Activity |
2009/10 |
2010/11 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
Total |
|
Meetings & workshops held |
|
|
10 |
8 |
6 |
24 |
3. Stakeholders
None
4. Briefings and/or public hearings
None
5. Legislation (None)
None the MPWC does not process legislation.
6. Workshops/Conferences undertaken
The following workshops and conferences were attended:
|
Date |
Place of event |
Objectives |
Analysis |
|
29 June 2011 |
Parliament in Cape Town |
To train members on Millennium Development Goals. |
To enrich and enhance understanding of MDGs by female members of Parliament and members of Provincial Legislatures. |
|
31 July to 03 August 2011 |
Birchwood Hotel Boksburg, Gauteng |
To participate in the First National Womens Conference hosted by the Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities. |
Addressing the voices of women in the key national priority for women and girls through: economic empowerment, job creation, decent work and sustainable livelihoods; education for girls and women; health for girls and women; rural development, food security and land reform for women and girls; fighting gender based violence. |
|
19 October 2011 |
Goodhope Chambers in Parliament of South Africa. |
To acquaint members with the information on climate change and to introduce a gendered perspective. |
To address gender perspective of climate and impact towards women as vulnerable group. To equip members with means and tools for mitigation and adaptation. |
|
10 12 July 2011
|
Eastern Cape, Lusikisiki.
|
1. To deliberate and interact with civil societies on challenges and achievements on MDGs 2. Develop recommendations in achieving these MDGs. |
A comprehensive understanding of state of affairs with regard to MDGs at local and provincial levels. |
|
19 21 July 2011 |
Limpopo: Polokwane & Thohoyandou |
1. To deliberate and interact with civil societies on challenges and achievements on MDGs 2. Develop recommendations in achieving these MDGs. |
A comprehensive understanding of state of affairs with regard to MDGs at local and provincial levels. |
|
16 February 2012 |
Parliament |
The breakfast event was hosted in honour of women veterans and in an effort to recognise and appreciate the meaningful and pivotal role these women played during the struggle for South Africas freedom. |
It sought to assure women veterans that women Parliamentarians were still committed to advancing the empowerment and emancipation of women in society.
|
|
5 8 July 2012 |
South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, Umthatha at Walter Sisulu University |
To participate in the 2 nd National Conference of Progressive Women Movement of South Africa. |
In improving the quality of life of women especially in the rural areas, the establishment of PWMSA structures will drive programmes of: -skills development, -promoting the growth of cooperatives, -mediation for peace in communities, and -stemming the tide of gender-based violence in communities. |
|
11 March 2013 |
West Rand District Municipality |
To launch West Rand District Municipality Multi-Party Womens Caucus |
To mainstream gender. |
|
18 March 2013 |
Eastern Cape, Amahlathi District Municipality |
To launch Amahlathi District Municipality Multi-Party Womens Caucus |
To mainstream gender. |
|
22 April 2013 |
Parliament |
The National Roundtable On Multi-Sectoral Interventions and Actions on Gender-Based Violence
|
Members engaged with stakeholders and civil society on the implementation of legislative provisions, gaps in the legislation that need to be addressed, as well as mechanisms for effectively overseeing actions and interventions aimed at ending gender-based violence. |
|
20 -21 August 2013 |
Parliament |
Womens Parliament objectives were: -To build an effective peoples Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people and that is driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life for all the people of South Africa -To provide a vehicle for womens voices to be heard on issues affecting them -To identify the challenges women face and to assist them in addressing those challenges
|
The 2013 Womens Parliament will provide an ideal opportunity to look back at all the Womens Parliaments that have taken place during the period of the 4 th democratic Parliament and will focus on discussing issues related to Gender Based Violence. It will give an opportunity for women to reflect and look at progress made towards women empowerment and also to pave the way forward to the next term.
|
Challenges emerging
No challenges were encountered during conference time.
a) Issues for follow-up
The 5 th Parliament should consider following up on the following concerns that arose:
- cascading the undertakings of MDGs to Provinces;
- launching MPWCs in all provinces and district municipalities;
- ensuring that the approach towards programmes and planning for the Womens Parliament is programme-based and not events-based; and
- ensuring that Womens Day should not be a celebration for one day, but a developmental programme spanning the term of the 5 th Parliament.
7. Study tours undertaken
None
8. International Agreements
None
9. Statutory appointments
None
10. Interventions
None
11. Petitions
None
12. Obligations conferred on committee by legislation:
None
13. Summary of outstanding issues relating to the civil societies that the MPWC has been working with
The following key issues are outstanding from the committees activities during the 4 th Parliament:
|
Responsibility |
Issue(s) |
|
Establishment of Provincial Caucuses |
The MPWC should facilitate the establishment of Provincial and District Caucuses. The mandates, programmes, and focus of the MPWC must ensure that provincial context is taken into account. |
|
Focused Programming and Follow-up
|
In addition to continuing with the assessment of the attainment of the MDGs, MPWC should also prioritise facilitating continued engagements around climate change. The capacitating of Members should also take high priority, especially on gender tools, including mainstreaming and budgeting. |
|
Coordination
|
Internally, the Caucus should persist in forming closer ties with relevant committees, especially the Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Youth, Children, and People with Disabilities. These partnerships will ensure coordinated efforts towards empowering not only ordinary women, but also the women Members of Parliament tasked with representing their interests. |
|
Planning
|
In ensuring the adequate engagement on gender issues by all Committees of Parliament, the MPWC should be clear on its strategic, operational, and political priorities for the 5 th term. The scheduling of Committee work must take into consideration the membership of MPWC Members to other committees. Through the appropriate alignment of the MPWC programme with the Parliamentary programme, and the effective engagement with the programming committee and the Office of the House Chairperson for Committees, the MPWC can ensure that scheduling issues are dealt with conclusively. |
14. Recommendations
14.1 The MPWC should facilitate the establishment of Provincial and District Caucuses. The mandates, programmes, and focus of the MPWC must ensure that provincial context is taken into account.
14.2 The MPWC should also prioritise facilitating continued engagements around climate change. Capacitating Members should also take high priority, especially on gender tools, including mainstreaming and budgeting.
14.3 The Caucus should persist in forming closer ties with relevant committees, especially the Portfolio and Select Committees on Women, Youth, Children, and People with Disabilities. These partnerships will ensure coordinated efforts towards empowering not only ordinary women, but also the women Members of Parliament tasked with representing their interests.
14.4 Through the appropriate alignment of the MPWC programme with the Parliamentary programme, and the effective engagement with the programming committee and the Office of the House Chairperson for Committees, the MPWC would ensure that scheduling issues are dealt with conclusively.
15. Committee strategic plan
STRATEGIC OUTLINE
|
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF PARLIAMENT |
FUNCTIONS |
PROGRAMME FOCUS |
|
To Strengthen the oversight function and establish a strong culture of overseeing executive function |
Represent the interests and concerns of women Members of Parliament |
-Identify the interests of women MPs in Parliament - Develop a Gender Policy - Establish a Capacity building Programme |
|
Introducing a womens perspective and focus in Parliamentary activities including in the programming of debates |
- Develop and implement a gender mainstreaming strategy within Parliament |
|
|
To increase public involvement and participation and build a responsive peoples Parliament |
Promoting the discussion of womens issues in Parliament |
-Round-table discussions on gendered matters of national interests -Maintain networks of relevant civil society organisations |
|
To strengthen co-operative government and foster improved cooperation and relations |
Making submissions to the relevant committee on issues affecting women |
-Identify issues of concern which concern legislation |
|
To Improve and widen the role of Parliament in international cooperation and participation |
Engaging on developmental and empowerment issues with women in political structures outside Parliament and women Members of Parliaments internationally |
- Maintain a network of regional, continental and international political stakeholders within the area of gender - Engage regional, continental and international political stakeholders on platforms provided - Legislative Role in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) |
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