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Launch:Women’s Legal Centre analysis of the State of the Nation Address 2013
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Invitation to Launch
“Women and Government Priorities: a gendered analysis of SONA”
Women’s Legal Centre analysis of the State of the Nation Address 2013.
The Women’s Legal Centre with the Community Law Centre invites you join us at the launch of and discussion on the analysis of the State of the Nation Address 2013
The President’s annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) outlines key deliverables and priorities for the year and also provides a yardstick with which to measure progress and delivery in relation to the goals and targets set the previous year. This year is of particular importance as it is the last year of the President’s first term.
For the third year the Women’s Legal Centre and partners will be releasing a feminist analysis of the State of the Nation Address. As in previous years the publication will focus on the implications of the five strategic priorities of the state to women:
•Education and skills development
•Ensuring a long and healthy life for all South Africans
•Rural development and land reform
•Creating decent work
•Fighting crime
The 2013 SONA will set out a ‘road map’ for the priorities for government in 2013. These priorities will inform budget allocation and service delivery over the year. As these priorities will affect the realization of women’s human rights and impact on their social and economic position in society, it is critical to analyze these policies from a gendered perspective, focusing on also provide a basis for a gendered assessment of the government performance before the 2014 elections.
When: Friday, 22 February 2013
Time: 10:30am for 11:00 -13:00pm
Where: 6 Spin Street Restaurant, 6 Spin Street, City Bowl, Cape Town
Light lunch will be served
Kindly note that there are no funds available for flights to Cape Town for those participants who wish to attend from outside of Cape Town.
RSVP before Tuesday, 19 February 2013
For any further queries, please contact Ms Kay Sapto:
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
Tel: 021 959 3708 / 2950
The research is sponsored by Heinrich Böll Foundation.
This launch is sponsored by the European Union.
CGE PUBLIC DIALOGUE - 13 DECEMBER 2012
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INVITATION
The CGE Monitor would like to invite you to attend a Public Dialogue on the CGE “The first 100 days: Setting the Agenda.”
The CGE Monitor working group is made up of women’s rights, gender equality and human rights organisations from across the country. All of the working group members are committed to the existence of a strong, pro-active and successful CGE in the interest of attaining gender equality in South Africa. The working group is jointly steered by the Women’s Legal Centre and Sonke Gender Justice Network. As part of the CGE Monitor’s monitoring strategy, a ‘100 Days Campaign’ was initiated. The purpose of the 100 Days Campaign was to monitor the CGE’s performance over the first 100 days of its new term. The 100 Days Campaign ran from 1 June 2012 (in order to coincide with the appointment date of the new seating of commissioners) to 23 October 2012.
Date : 13 December 2012
Time : 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Venue : The Townhouse Hotel
Address : 60 Corporation Street, Cape Town
Panel :
Lisa Vetten , Independent Researcher/Gender Specialist
Sindiswa Thasen, Field Worker & Trainer, Triangle Projects
* Kindly indicate whether you will require parking
**Vegetarian and Halaal options available – please indicate your dietary requirements.
Please RSVP by 11 December 2012 to Ingrid @ Tel : 021 424 5660 Fax: (021) 424 5206 alternatively This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Womens Legal Centre welcomes the action by the Commision for Gender Equality
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The Womens Legal Centre welcomes the action by the Commision for Gender Equality
The CGE leads a team to rescue a 14 year old girl from being married off
Following the release of the State Response and Protection of girls from being victims of ukuthwala, the Commission for Gender Equality has been inundated with engagements with various stakeholders on the matter. Some communities are beginning to engage directly with the commission.
On the 30th of November the CGE received a complaint from an anonymous caller citing that a 14 year old child in KwaMthandeni, outside kwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu Natal, was due to marry a man above the age of 40 on the 16th of December 2012. The girl was a replacement for her 20 year old sister who had been chosen in the church by this man. Upon finding that she is pregnant by another man, the sister ran off, hence the suitor and the family agreed that the younger sister should take her place.
The CGE lead a team of SAPS’s FCS unit and the Social Workers to verify the story, locate the child and engage with the family and the suitor to ensure that the marriage is called off. The family and suitor confirmed that the man had paid R29 500 towards ilobolo and wanted either his money back or another girl. Although the suitor intimated that he does not know the girl, rituals had been done and all was set for the wedding day. The girl’s family said they were not very keen to marry the child off but religious leaders from their church put pressure on them. The girl’s mother said as a woman, she did not have much say in the matter.
In terms of both the Sexual Offences Act and the Children’s Act, the CGE pointed out to both the parents and the suitor that should this marriage proceed, they would be arrested and prosecuted. Due to the seriousness of the matter, the Department of Social Welfare has since removed the child from her home until such time that a Social Worker in charge of the case has ascertained the safety of the child. Both Department of Social Welfare and SAPS will ensure that the child receives necessary counselling and that no further criminal acts ensue as a result. The CGE will monitor progress on this case and engage with both traditional and religious leaders to raise awareness and stamp out the practices of ukuthwala and underage marriages.
Issued by: Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)
Date: 03 December 2012
Contact Persons: Javu Baloyi
Tel: 083 579 3306
The Commission for Gender Equality is established in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in order to promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.
LAWYERING ON THE MARGINS
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LAWYERING ON THE MARGINS
December 3 – 8, 2012
Women's Legal Centre - Cape town, South Africa
The 2012 “Lawyering on the Margins” will be the second unique global gathering of lawyers working with marginalized groups, namely people who use drugs, sex workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Approximately 35 lawyers will have the opportunity to meet, network and learn from their peers in other countries and settings about their successes, failures, strategies and aspirations for ensuring that those that sit on the margins of society have access to justice. Lawyering on the Margins is a seminar for lawyers who are working towards social change, and believe that the law is an important means towards this end.
Today, 03 December 2012, WLC will be training lawyers from different African Countries on sex work litigation.
Invitation: Harmful Cultural Practices Symposium
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INVITATION
The WLC will be hosting a workshop discussion of the Harmful Cultural Practices
This symposium will include three speakers addressing harmful cultural practices against women, underage marriages, virginity testing, ukuthwala, lobola, and law reform. We hope to identify the problems, examine the remedies, and discuss using the law to deal with these obstacles.
Date : Friday, 16 November 2012
Time : 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Venue : Idasa (Cape Town Democracy Centre)
Address : 6 Spin Street, Cape Town (Map Attached)
Presenters : Nomboniso Gasa, Amanda Gouws, and Maite Modiba
Please RSVP by 9 November 2012 to Ingrid @ Tel : 021 424 5660 Fax: (021) 424 5206 alternatively This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it