ACCELERATING GENDER AND DISABILITY EQUITY THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE INTERVENTION

ACCELERATING GENDER AND DISABILITY EQUITY

THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE INTERVENTION

PRESENTATION TO A JOINT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND

ADMINISTRATION & WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

30 October 2013

ACCELERATING DISABILITY & GENDER EQUITY

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CREATING AN ENABLING

POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE

ENVIRONMENT (demand)

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

(supply)

PUBLIC SERVICE INTERVENTIONS

IMPACTS

ENABLING POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT

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Constitution (1996) White Paper on an Integrated National Disability Strategy (1997) Employment Equity Act (1998) Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (2000) National Policy on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (2000) Ratification of International, Continental and Regional Human Rights

Treaties (Beijing; CEDAW; AU Protocols; CRPD) Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill (2013) National Disability Rights Policy – to focus on equality of outcome by focusing on

minimum norms and standards in key areas (target date 2014) Transversal Disability Rights Legislation (target date 2015) Sector policy and legislation DWCPD Mainstreaming Framework & Strategies Mainstreaming of gender and disability considerations and impact indicators into

the 2014-2019 MTSF

BACKGROUND OF THE 50% GENDER PARITY PRINCIPLE

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This 50/50 principle is in line with the decision adopted by the African

Union (AU) Commission in 2002, as well as that articulated in the AU

Heads of States’ Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa,

adopted in 2004.

It is also aligned to the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development,

which contains a clause on the 50% gender parity target to be

achieved by 2015.

The Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is the

champion of the 50% gender parity programme in the country, while

the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has been

implementing the mandate of 50% representation of women in the

SMS levels in the Public Service

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OVERALL ACHIEVEMENTS

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At the political decision making levels, the country has progressed from 2,7% pre-1994 to within the 40-45% mark currently, making us 4th on the OECD SIGI and 6th on the Global Economic Index Gap Report

South African women hold senior positions internationally and on the continent. At the national level women hold senior positions in both the public and private sectors

In the Public Sector, 39.1% women in the SMS levels. 4 National Departments have reached the 50% target. However at the private sector level, women as Chairpersons (5,1%) or CEOs (3%) and Directors (17%) are on the very low side (even though there is an upward slant in terms of numbers)

Focus on transformation of the Judiciary has seen an increase from 0-30% of female judges since 1994.

The MDG Report 2013 shows that more women are entering tertiary institutions and more women are graduating with post matric qualifications including up to doctorate levels. More women are entering research areas

There is also positive trends in the numbers of girls entering fields of study or work previously dominated by men, especially the STEM areas.

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WEGE BILL

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The enactment of the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill will focus on both public and private bodies (as defined in the Bill). The Bill seeks to attain progressive realisation of a minimum of 50% representation and meaningful participation of women in decision-making structures, including Boards and the judiciary. It speaks to the issues of building women’s capacity to participate as well as providing supporting mechanisms for women. This allows for enforcement which is currently a huge gap in pushing this parity principle with any authority

The WEGE Bill also legislates for gender mainstreaming across private and public bodies

The Bill provides for regulations of institutional mechanisms to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality. This means that the issue of gender focal points or gender units, location and rank can be regulated in the future. In addition the Bill calls for the regulations on the minimum competencies for such positions so that gender mainstreaming is not treated as an area “dumped “ onto employees in HR, or holding a basket of focus areas.

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EMPOWERING WOMEN

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Working with girls in terms of career development – such as the Techno-girls project, Cell C Take a girl child to work programme. UNICEF is now taking the Techno-girls project as a best practice globally.

Working with young women to address issues of empowerment for example DWCPD holds discussion forums with young women, including young women with disabilities – these sessions allows for interactive discussions on challenges they face, what opportunities exist, etc.

Working with rural women to empower them – one of the spin offs includes a long term investment on women who will have the corollary impact on the lives of daughters – who are the future workforce. An MOU with DRDLR makes provision for 50% of land allocated to go to women.

Empowered women will find it easier to avail themselves for senior positions in the workforce and be able to hold their own in an environment dominated by men

DWCPD collaborated with PALAMA in continuing to train employees in gender mainstreaming, and has also facilitated gender-responsive budgeting training

Some departments are grooming/training a pool of middle managers through the Executive Management Training courses e.g. Department of Correctional Services

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DISABILITY RIGHTS OVERALL ACHIEVEMENTS

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South Africa claims the international stage with regards championing the rights of persons with disabilities due to progress being made in mainstreaming disabilityDevelopment and ratification of the CRPDDeclaration of the Africa Decade for Persons with DisabilitiesDevelopment of the UN DESA Toolkit for AfricaZero Project Nominations on Good Practice in AccessibilityDisability, HIV and AIDSSelf representation

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EMPOWERINGPERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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FOCUS INTERVENTION IMPACT

Education • Universal Access to Early Childhood Development (2013)

• Inclusive Education Policy (2001)

• Sign Language Curriculum published (2013)

• Braille Production of Learning Materials (2013)

• Higher Education Roadshow

• Bursaries

• Approx. 94% of children with disabilities aged 7-15 years were in school in 2010, compared with 73% in 2002.

• 129,121 adults with disabilities enrolled in adult literacy programmes between 2008 and 2011.

• Average of 700 – 800 learners with disabilities complete matric at special schools annually.

• 6,277 students with disabilities enrolled at universities in 2012 declared their disabilities.

• Average of between 800-1000 young persons with disabilities graduates annually.

• The NSFAS grant now provides reasonable accommodation support to qualifying students (assistive devices and technology as well as personal assistance)

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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FOCUS INTERVENTION IMPACT

Skills Development & Economic Empowerment

• Learnerships

• Development of skills and vocational-orientated exit level qualification at Grade 9 level for learners with intellectual disabilities (2011)

• Progressive roll-out of rehabilitation services

• Subsidisation of protective workshops and sheltered employment factories

• Support for self help groups run by people with disabilities

• Expanded Public Works Programme

• 5,133 (54%) of the 9,541 young people with disabilities enrolled in learnership programmes between 2008-2011 successfully completed

• 2,339 (46%) gained employment after the completion of their learnerships.

• Athena Private Further Education and Training College (95% pass; Close to 80% Gainful Employment Rate)

• SA Disability Development Trust; Netcare; MODE; ILO Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality

• EPWP and the CWP : 0,48% (2009/10), 0,45% (2010/11) and 0,19% (2011/12).

• 293 protective workshops empowering 14,212 persons with disabilities received subsidies in 2012, compared to 260 in 2010.

• School-to-Work programmes

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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FOCUS INTERVENTION IMPACT

Skills Development & Economic Empowerment

• Department of Labour Employment Services

• The Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000

• Taxpayers are able to claim tax benefits for all disability-related costs incurred.

• Cooperatives support

• 961 of the 1,746 job-seekers with disabilities registered in the employment services database 2010/11, placed

• 12 sheltered employment factories in Gauteng, Western Cape, North West, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu Natal employ 926 persons with disabilities.

• Protective workshops subsidised by the Department of Social Development-

• 2010: 260 workshops with 6,585 beneficiaries

• 2012: 293 workshops with 14,212 beneficiaries

• R50m set aside by Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) for financing of enterprises specifically owned by persons with disabilities.

• Medunsa Organisation for Disabled Entrepreneurs (MODE) established 532 persons with disabilities in their own income-generating micro-enterprises between 2004 and 2011. The success rate is 74%, which for micro-enterprise development is very good.

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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FOCUS INTERVENTION IMPACT

Social Protection

• Social grants• Compensation for

Occupational Injuries and Diseases

• Community Works Programme and EPWP

More than a million South Africans with disabilities access monthly disability grants;

114,993 children with severe disabilities access care dependency grants, constituting a 44% growth since 1996/97.

536,747 persons accessed a grant-in aid 2011/12, constituting a 95% growth since 2008/9.

Transport • Universal Design approach adopted on BRT system

• Dial-a-Ride• Taxi Refurbishment

• Accessible systems being rolled out in all metropolitan cities, secondary cities as well as rural public transport nodes

• MetroRail refurbishment

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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FOCUS INTERVENTION IMPACT

Self-Representation & Empowerment

• Recognition of the right to self-representation

• Recognition and strengthening of representative organisations of persons with disabilities

• Provision of dialogue platforms for persons with disabilities

• Profiling disabled writers and film-makers

• Political self-representation by people with disabilities, with 16 MPs (including 1 Deputy Minister), 8 MPLs (including 3 MECs) and 72 councillors.

• Self representation on SA Human Rights Commission, the Commission on Gender Equality, the National Youth Development Agency, the Public Service Commission, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), the National Lotteries Board and its Distributing Agencies, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Commission on Employment Equity, the National Development Agency, the Pan South African Language Board, the National Skills Authority and the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) etc

• DSD financial support now being rolled out to disabled people’s organisations

• Six disabled writers and film-makers profiled

• Siyahlola Dialogue; Albinism Conference

WAY FORWARD

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Finalisation of transversal/cross-cutting policy and legislation Strengthen national machineries

Disability Rights Policy and WEGE BillClearly defined functions, responsibilities, competencies and

qualificationsAlign programmes with national planning and budgeting cyclesAlign national gender and disability rights agenda with MTSF

Progressive roll-out of Sector Rights-based Monitoring and Evaluation StrategyDisaggregation of statistics and data & knowledge managementGender and disability responsive budgetingTargets and indicators

Strengthen research into priority areas for gender and disability equity promotion

Publication of thematic research

Working together we can do more to

remove barriers and create

an inclusive and accessible

society for all.

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