Polokwane – Taking women one step forward or two steps back? - Publications

Women at ANC rally. Photo by David Harrison

Conclusions

Notwithstanding the fact that the recent past has seen some very disturbing developments in the political arena from a gender perspective, the new term of the fourth democratic government also presents an opportunity for gender activists in many different ways. Notwithstanding the controversy around the establishment of the Ministry, its establishment can also be an opportunity for enhancing the quality of women’s lives. The creation of a Portfolio and a Select Committee mandated to deal with legislation, something that the Joint Monitoring Committee could not do in the past, the possible reworking of the National Gender Policy Framework and the establishment of the National Plan of Action, are all opportunities for both improving women’s lives and ensuring that resources are appropriated for giving effect to this. What is critical is that civil society organisation ensures that these spaces of opportunity are moulded and framed by the inputs of women in society. The critical challenge in the next five years is finding ways of working together to both hold the state accountable for ensuring that women’s lives are changed for the better, and that women’s “submerged discourse” is rendered visible and acted upon in ways in which transcend mere political rhetoric. Poor women do not need another “paper tiger” in the form of gender bureaucracies as real improvements in their lives are long overdue.

This report is the first in a series of papers commissioned as part of GAP’s 50/50 campaign, a partnership between the Gender Advocacy Project, Triangle, Gender Links and the Women’s Legal Centre.

Download the complete report (pdf, 18 pages, 400 KB).