SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICA LOCAL

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE
SUMMIT AND AWARDS
28 – 30 MARCH 2011
KOPANONG HOTEL, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH
AFRICA
“365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END GENDER
VIOLENCE: HALVE GENDER VIOLENCE BY 2015”

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING
THIS PROBLEM?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• The customary property and inheritance

laws treat women as minors and this leaves
them in a position of economic dependency.
• The dissemination of the Legal Capacity of
Married Persons Act (2006) has proved
limited
• The HIV/Aids impact
• Social Acceptance

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• The sensitization of traditional leaders,

women and men as well as adolescents will
lead to a better understanding of Basotho
legal structures with regard to property and
inheritance rights.
• A better understanding of these concepts
will empower women hence will lead to their
social and economic stability

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING
THI S PROBLEM?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Through Public
gatherings
• Sensitization
workshops for both
women and men
• Media campaign-
Radio and TV
• Through meetings
with local leaders

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING
THI S PROBLEM?
• Through campaigns
during special
international
recognized days e.g
16 day.
• Sesotho Publications
(Brochures, posters)
• Organizing dramas
• Through trainings on
‘WILL’ writing
 WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE
PROJECT?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• 2006-2012

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS
INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY
INVOLVED?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Women’s saving
/burial groups
• Youths
• Justice and peace
groups
• Traditional leaders;
Chiefs and Clergy

CATHOLIC COMMISION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL,
HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE
MOBILISED?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• The human resources for the project were

purely supplied by the organization except
for the gender officer who was hired
• The project is funded by Canada High
Commission in South Africa

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE
PROJECT
• Ministry of gender
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• CGPU
• NGOs involved in
promoting gender
equality and women’s
rights
• Support groups
• Youth groups

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• The results are measured in terms of

immediate effects of goods and services
(from program activities) delivered, thereby
demonstrating changes in the rate
participants (beneficiaries) adopt new
behaviours and skills promoted by the
project.

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?
• Citizens’ knowledge
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

about women’s rights,

gender and local
services have been
increased
• Women and men are
encouraged to
practice their
inheritance rights
under common law.

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

• Trained groups provide

regular support
services to the victims
of GBV
• Local leaders
recognize the signs of
GBV and act
appropriately.
• Women register
property in their name
or in joint ownership
with their husbands.
 IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOL
TARGETS)
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Abolishing the minority status of women (3)

• Enact and enforce legislation prohibiting all
forms of Gender Based Violence (14)
• Take measures to promote the equal
representation of women in ownership of,
and decision making structures that provide
for equal representation of women in
decision making position by 2015 (28)

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 EFFECTIVENESS
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• The project has enhanced the capacity of

the J&P members in administration,
management of cases and counseling of
abused victims.
• The availability of local services has
improved significantly from the time of the
start of the program
• Knowledge of the CGPU and its services
has increased dramatically
CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR
JUSTICE AND PEACE
 SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Increased understanding of gender relations

and common law will enable an environment
for women’s practice of property and
inheritance rights
• Attitude and behaviour change will have a
multiplier effect in participating communities.
• Strengthening current CCJP groups will
sustain the project-volunteers and CB

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
 LESSONS LEARNED
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Women perceive the project as trying to

change their culture
• Traditional leaders do not entertain gender
debate-western concept
• Local leaders are not qualified to attend to
victims of GBV and domestic violence hence
are indirectly and severely affected.

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• Is government implementing enough policies

to change the traditional structures that turn to
increase women’s vulnerability to abuse?

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR

JUSTICE AND PEACE