Hon Speaker, let me thank the hon Minister for her elaborate response, however, I want to ask the hon Minister if she has thought of steps that she would take, in case these good practices are not implemented.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Speaker, we are currently working on the Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, which will enforce the implementation of equal representation of men and women in the public and private sectors. This Bill has been approved by Cabinet and is now open for public comment. We believe in that Bill, and we are looking at measures such as penalties and sanctions for whoever does not implement the prescriptions of the Bill. And I believe that through this Bill, we will be able to enforce these measures. Thank you, hon Speaker.
Hon Speaker, hon Minister, it is important that women are empowered and participate in decision-making positions. How is the legislation going to educate and empower women in order to participate in a meaningful way and not merely rubber-stamp the decisions that have already been made, like in the Central African Republic?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I am not aware that women in the Central African Republic are rubber-stamping anything. However, I would like to say to the hon member, we have committed ourselves to going on road shows, visiting all our provinces and having women's forums, seminars and summits where we are going to educate women and communities about the Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill. We are also going to educate them about women's rights, starting with the Constitution and the laws that have been enacted since 1994, which have empowered the women of this country and ensured that their rights are protected. Thank you, Chairperson.
I have already asked my question, hon Speaker.
Okay, thank you. There is space for one. Is there someone? None. We proceed.
Particulars regarding South Africa's participation in 57th session of UN Commission on the Status of Women
131. Ms L L van der Merwe (IFP) to ask the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities:
What (a) total expenses were incurred, (b) was the composition of the delegation, (c) role was assigned to each member of the delegation and (d) outcomes were achieved in terms of real progress in the fight against the scourge of violence against women and children in respect of South Africa's participation in the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March 2013? NO890E
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Deputy Speaker, the total cost that was incurred by the department for its participation at the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2013 is R1,072 million. The South African delegation comprised the Minister of Social Development, the Deputy Minister of Police, the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, senior government officials and I.
The theme of the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women was: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Therefore, we had mostly the Justice, Crime Prevention, Safety and Security Cluster participating. The role and responsibilities included the following: the Department of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities was the lead department on content negotiations; the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, represented by the UN Embassy in New York and headed by Ambassador Mamabolo, focused on UN protocol and negotiations; the Department of Social Development focused on victim empowerment, support, prevention, and negotiations, and also participated in a number of side events; the SA Police Service focused on the prevention of gender-based violence, the role of law enforcement agencies in the war against violence against women and children, and the protection of victims, and also participated in side events; and the Department of Correctional Services, led by the Deputy Minister, focused on programmes for men and boys and also the rehabilitation of offenders. The Ministers stayed for the high-level panel sessions only.
There was also a delegation from the human rights institutions, represented by the Commission for Gender Equality. There were also the Film and Publication Board, which participated on issues of cybercrime and electronic pornography, particularly child pornography, and Members of Parliament, as well as the chairs of the portfolio and select committees. [Time expired.]
Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for her response, and I recognise that South Africa needs to go to these UN sessions to report on our country's progress, especially at a time when South Africa faces a real crisis of violence against women and children.
However, opportunities for individuals in our delegations to participate in events there are normally very limited, and the real work that has to be done is here on the ground in South Africa - in affected households in communities. Would it therefore not be more prudent in this current economic climate to use the R1,7 million that was allocated for this trip in areas such as the programmes that you have, which are critically underfunded, and also to channel it to the nongovernmental organisations - the real people doing the hard work on the ground and who also face real funding problems? Hon Minister, would you in future consider rather adopting this approach?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Deputy Speaker, well, the IFP is not ruling South Africa. The IFP has no obligations internationally. This country is highly respected in the international community. It has signed and ratified international instruments and therefore has a responsibility to go every year and report on the progress made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Cedaw, on the optional protocol, and also on the Beijing Platform for Action. We were there with NGOs that were also using their money to go and report, and share experiences and best practices.
I would like to say that the delegation represented South Africa so well that we were highly commended by the Under-Secretary-General of UN Women, Dr Michelle Bachelet, for the work that we have done. We were highly commended for the launch of the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence on 10 December 2012, International Human Rights Day. We were highly commended for the laws we have passed since 1994 to empower women and protect them from violence and abuse. We were highly commended for the role that we are playing in ensuring that lesbians and gays are protected in our Constitution. We were an example for the entire continent, even in the negotiations, in fighting for the rights of lesbians and gay people, and for women to be protected from abuse, violence and rape. Also, we were commended for the work we have done with rural women in South Africa in ensuring that they are given the opportunity to come to Parliament to raise their concerns on the Traditional Courts Bill and to ensure that their voices are heard. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
I rise on a point of order, Deputy Speaker.
What is the point of order, hon member?
Deputy Speaker, I didn't want to disturb the hon Minister whilst she was responding to our question. I just want to object very strongly against the Minister's statement that the IFP is not in government.
That is not a point of order.
It implies, Deputy Speaker, that the IFP has no right to ask questions.
Hon member, sit down. Hon member, take your seat. [Interjections.]
Deputy Speaker, I would like to ask the hon Minister about the criteria used by the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities to appoint delegations to attend events of national importance like the UN gender summits? Did the Minister find the delegation to the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women to represent the parliamentary women multiparty caucus? If not, why not? If so, what are the relevant details?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Deputy Speaker, as I said, the delegation depended on the theme of that particular year's session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. As I said, the theme was: The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. This is why we prioritise the Justice, Crime Prevention, Safety and Security Cluster and ensure that those departments that work in the specific area are there. We do inform Parliament every year when the UN Commission on the Status of Women, CSW, will be sitting. I don't have the powers to tell the Speaker who should be in the delegation of Parliament. I believe the Speaker is actually my boss. I cannot dictate to him. Thank you.
Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the hon Minister for the answers. Hon Minister, the then acting director-general of your department accompanied you to New York to attend the 57th CSW session. During the past financial year, she was sent back on two occasions as she could not do a proper presentation to the committee on the implementation of the department's turnaround strategy.
Seeing that the department is not where it should be in implementing the turnaround strategy and doesn't seem to have prioritised the implementation thereof, why did you allow her to accompany you? I am asking this question, Minister, because I believe that charity begins at home. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Deputy Speaker, the acting director-general was there to help lead the negotiations. She did not stay throughout the session; she came back on time to complete her work. She has presented the turnaround strategy to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities, and that turnaround strategy was accepted and applauded by the committee. I thank you, Deputy Speaker. [Interjections.]
Hon McIntosh, I think, pressed hon George's thing. [Interjections.]
Deputy Speaker, I am sorry. I was in hon George's seat because I have a sore leg. My question to the hon Minister is: Before she went to New York, did she or her delegation acquaint themselves with the oldest memorial to women, which records the enormous suffering and heroism of an African group of women, the Women's Memorial in Bloemfontein? If she hasn't visited it, is she planning to visit that memorial?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Deputy Speaker, I have visited Bloemfontein on several occasions. I have also seen the memorial the hon member referred to. I have also attended the memorial lecture, by President Jacob Zuma, of Charlotte Maxeke who led the women of South Africa in 1913 - a century ago - and on whose behalf, as well as that of the other women, we are commemorating and celebrating 100 years of the women's struggle in South Africa. We are talking about women who were fighting for a nonracial and nonracist democratic South Africa against the bastion of colonialism at that time. [Applause.]
Plans regarding dissolution of National Youth Development Agency
99. Mr J J McGluwa (ID) asked the Minister in the Presidency Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration:
Whether he plans to dissolve the National Youth Development Agency?