4
th
The
Commonwealth Women
Parliamentarians
[C W P ]
Southern Africa sub-region
Gender Advocacy workshop
4 TH - 8 TH M AY 2 0 1 5 | J O H A N N E S B U R G | S O U T H A F R I C A
0 7 M AY 2 0 1 5 | I S S U E 0 2
Fight practices that
hamper women
participation
WRITER: NEO MATONKONYANE
O
n the last day of the
4th Commonwealth
Women Parliamentarian
(CWP) Workshop, Hon.
Rebecca Kadaga, International
CWP Chairperson urged Women
Parliamentarians to invest in training
on leadership, public speaking and
political campaigning “in an effort to
groom women to compete, win and be
good leaders who can inspire others”.
She was addressing the Workshop,
THE
4th
Women Parliamentarians must establish an
effective monitoring system to ensure active
implementation by Members of legislatures
pointing out some of the existing
means aimed at ensuring gender
parity in governance.
Highlighting the treaties and
conventions of the Beijing Platform of
Action (BPA), Hon. Kadaga said the
BPA called for measures ensuring
women’s equal access to and full
participation in power structures and
decision-making. “Political quotas are
examples of these,” she added.
She applauded the achievements
made by countries in implementing
affirmative action policies and
programs of action advocating for
greater representation of women to
C O M M O N W E A LT H W O M E N P A R L I A M E N TA R I A N S | G E N D E R A D V O C A C Y W O R K S H O P
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CWP to eradicate
practices that restrain
women participation
take on leadership positions are
insurmountable.
Kenyan Branch Convenor,
Senator Beatrice Elachi, delivered
the draft resolution from the twoday deliberations. She implored
Commonwealth Southern Africa Subregion States to establish laws and
regulations that advance the cause
of women in the political arena whilst
ensuring the eradication of restrictive
and discriminatory practices that
restrain women’s participation in the
political processes.
The resolutions encompassed
continuous capacity building and
knowledge sharing on regulations
that not only protects women but
enhance the interests of women within
the Commonwealth Southern Africa
Sub-Region. The resolutions also
referred to an effective monitoring
system to be established by Women
Parliamentarians to ensure active
implementation. The availability of
financial resources, a key component
in the improvement of women in
critical decision making positions
in parliament and legislatures was
similarly called upon.
Hon Didiza urged participants to
input into the draft resolution that “truly
reflects the views on the workshop”.
The delegation closed the
Workshop in song, singing the anthem
of the Commonwealth Women
Parliamentarians.
Media as a tool to ensure strong
advocacy in the legislative sector
WRITER: PFANO BULASIGOBO
G
roup Editor of Eye
Witness News (EWN)
and Media Expert Katy
Katopodis presented
on ‘developing effective ways of
dealing with the media spotlight and
mechanisms to use the media to
ensure strong advocacy for coverage
of the Parliament’ at the last day
of the 4th Commonwealth Women
Parliamentarians (CWP) South
Africa Sub-Region Gender Advocacy
Workshop.
In her introduction, Ms Katopodis
narrated her experience in
journalism and imparted to Women
Parliamentarians the lessons she’s
learnt over the years through the
numerous positions she’s occupied
over the years. Her presentation
focused on the state of media in South
Africa: understanding the current
media landscape; advocacy work
making the news; understanding the
broader context of what’s happening
in the country, the region and the
world, how it affects the advocacy
work being done; getting the message
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across effectively; gender issues in the
workplace with regards to media, and
understanding gender issues when
reporting; the power and use of social
media; and leadership through and in
media.
Chairperson of the session Hon.
Thokozile Didiza opened up the floor
for further discussions and questions
from delegates and observers – who
demonstrated a huge interest on and
notable knowledge of the topic at
hand. Several issues were raised in
relation to their participation in social
media as well as media’s focus on
negative stories, which sometimes
results in Women politicians’ non-
GENDER ADVOCACY WORKSHOP | THE
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participation and withdrawal from the
media space.
In addressing concerns raised, Ms
Katopodis highlighted the importance
of understanding public interest stories
versus what’s interesting for the public.
She emphasized the importance
of access to media information
and self-positioning through media
opportunities and platforms the
politicians’ disposal. The session
concluded with highlighting the role of
Women Parliamentarians and women
in the media can play to influence
change and ensure fair and just
treatment as well as better working
conditions.
C O M M O N W E A LT H W O M E N P A R L I A M E N TA R I A N S
Men must play their
role as partners
to address gender
imbalances in
governance
WRITER: KHULE MCHUNU
A
s an independent statutory
body established in terms
of Section 181 of the
Constitution of South Africa,
the Commission on Gender Equality
(CGE) continues to be concerned
about poor representation of women at
political leadership level and women’s
participation in the formation of policy
priorities. This was the strong sentiment
conveyed by the Deputy Chairperson of
the Commission, Thoko Mpumlwana,
when presenting on the significance
of increasing the number of women
in Parliaments, Cabinets and other
National and Sub-National decisionmaking bodies in the African Region
– in a session presided over by CWP
Convenor, Senator Beatrice Elachi.
Among factors identified by the
Commission as key challenges
faced by women within the context
of Parliamentary and legislative
governance were training and
leadership, strategies that enhance the
positioning of women in Parliaments,
women forming part of the resourcing,
planning, and decision-making
processes, as well as the insufficient
understanding of Parliamentary
procedures and standards.
Highlighting the gains made, the
Commission pointed out the historic
appointment of one-third women
Cabinet members in 2011 in Nigeria,
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including to traditional male portfolios
such as the Ministry of Petroleum
Resources. Another one was the
success of the Rwanda Patriotic Front
(RPF) in the 2013 elections, with a
76,2% win. Women claimed 51 of the
80 contested seats, representing a
64% female presence in Parliament’s
Chamber of Deputies, setting a record
To address the imbalance,
the Commission recommends the
development of a legal framework
and governing documents that
are gender sensitive, as well as
the establishment of measures to
promote women participation in
governing boards and decisionmaking structures.
Gender stereotypes based on customs and
traditions are among the factors that impede
progress for equal representation by women and
men in political and decision making positions.
- Commissioner Mpumlwana.
for Rwanda and the world. In 2011,
South Africa and Nigeria had some
of the highest numbers of women in
Cabinet in the Sub-Saharan Africa,
with South Africa occupying the top
position at 41% and Nigeria at 33%.
With 44% women in Parliament,
the Seychelles has come closest to
achieving parity target in this area
of political decision-making. From
2012 to 2014, Malawi had a female
President and South Africa had a
Deputy-President from 2005 to 2008.
Among challenges highlighted by
the Commission was the absence of
comprehensive affirmative action plans
or quotas, which hindered women’s
access to decision-making.
“During pre-election periods,
consensus must be reaches among
party leadership to promote women
electoral participation. The election
bureau or party leadership must
enforce candidate quota rules in line
with the electoral timetable. Women
must be placed in winnable positions on
party lists and in in safe constituencies,”
said Commissioner Mpumlwana.
“Men must also pledge their
support by forming strategic
partnerships with women to
address imbalance.” She pointed
out the importance of funding and
campaigning, as well providing women
with skills to raise early money,
campaign and build name recognition.
C O M M O N W E A LT H W O M E N P A R L I A M E N TA R I A N S | G E N D E R A D V O C A C Y W O R K S H O P
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GENDER ADVOCACY WORKSHOP | THE
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C O M M O N W E A LT H W O M E N P A R L I A M E N TA R I A N S