Gendered review of country implementation of MDGs

1. Gendered review of country implementation of MDGs National MDG Summit – Cape Town 30 August 2010 Commission for Gender Equality

2. Introduction • The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is an independent state institution established in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution Act no 108 of 1996. • The CGE is charged with a broad mandate to promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality in South Africa. • Part of our mandate is to monitor the implementation of the international and regional conventions acceded to by South Africa, that impact on gender equality. • These instruments include the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), arising from the Millennium Declaration, adopted by the United Nations in 2000.

3. MDG gendered review • Accordingly, the CGE has undertaken the compilation of a report, to assess from a gender perspective the progress made by South Africa with regard to MDG commitments. • While this includes a review of state interventions in pursuit of goal three of the MDGs, on gender equality and women empowerment, the report equally assesses the gendered impact of the state’s progress regarding the remaining seven goals’ targets. • This presentation provides an overview of our preliminary findings, drawn from the first draft of our report. The CGE is convening a consultative dialogue with key government and civil society stakeholders from relevant sectors to present and deliberate on findings, and identify gaps and additional challenges, and refine recommendations. • The CGE has sought audience with Parliament to present our final report and recommendations, and will table this at UN deliberations and parallel events in New York later in September this year.

4. Structure and approach of report • In this report, the CGE has followed the African Gender and Development Index (AGDI) approach, which presents an African-based mechanism for measuring the status of women as compared to men’s, in the social, economic, and political spheres • We have clustered the eight MDGs into these three spheres, and have included sustainable development and security as two additional clusters. • Compilation of data was undertaken by a team of CGE researchers, drawing on government department annual reports, Stats-SA data, research undertaken by various civil society entities, and direct questionnaires and engagement with government departments. • Through this report, The CGE seeks to influence and strengthen the state’s understanding of the gendered implications of each of the MDGs. Our intention is to advocate for improved policy formulation, budgeting and programme implementation to address the gaps and challenges highlighted in this report, impacting on the quality of life of women and girl children in South Africa.

5. Key findings - Economic cluster – poverty • Number of women living in poverty – and number of those considered poor living in female-headed households – disproportionate to men. Primary causes of feminisation of poverty linked to absence of economic opportunities and autonomy; lack of access to economic resources – finance and land; lack of access to education and support services; participation in decision-making • Women have high level of income poverty – high rate of unemployment; low wages caused by low skill and education levels and discrimination (gender wage gap still prevalent in SA); clustering of women in low-paid jobs; and non-recognition of women’s time spent on unpaid care work • Gender discrimination in the workplace rampant – EEC findings on women’s under-representation, recruitment, promotion, skills training; particular vulnerabilities of farm and domestic workers with poor monitoring and enforcement; lack of maternity benefits for self-employed workers; • Women-headed households were majority beneficiaries of housing subsidies, yet 90% of land reform beneficiaries were men; positive EPWP job opportunity and skills creation for women • Little evidence of gender mainstreaming in planning, budgeting and implementation of poverty alleviation programmes. Despite existence of gender policies, lack of sex-disaggregated data on beneficiaries to track impact

6. Economic cluster - international partnerships • This goal requires governments, NGOs, and the private sector worldwide to work together in partnership in order to ensure the complete fulfilment of the MDGs. • A gendered review of this goal requires states to seek out international partnerships and development assistance to support the development and implementation of gender-responsive rights-based policies and programmes, including accessing technical assistance to improve gender-responsive and sex-disaggregated data. • It is apparent from the analysis contained in the CGE’s report that this is an area where the South African government is failing • Encouraging, many ODA programmes (mostly EU-funded) targeting gender equality, such as human trafficking, Victim Empowerment Programme, and stated objectives to see gender mainstreaming through all programmes • National Treasury has put in place systems to track aid flow into the country, but does not monitor the outcomes and impact of such aid in relation to gender equality and women’s empowerment

7. Key findings – Social Cluster: Education • Net enrolment - primary education: SA appears close to universal primary education, but this is determined by enrolment rate. Does not speak to attendance, which for girls is higher than boys. • Identified need for tailored policies and interventions – or better implementation of existing policies – to address primary causes for girls to drop out, including teenage pregnancy (on the increase in predominantly rural areas and areas of entrenched poverty), inadequate sanitation facilities at school, lack of access to safe transport, domestic responsibilities .. • Implementation of “No fee” schools and school nutrition programmes make a significant contribution to retaining learners in school • GBV at schools not being adequately addressed, despite existence of policy in this regard – insufficient gender and GBV in curriculum, and insufficient distribution of resource materials and awareness training for teachers • Eliminate gender disparity – at primary level, marginally more girls than boys; reversed at secondary level; literacy levels still lower among women than men • Awaiting statistics on gender transformation in the workplace – appears women under-represented in senior management positions

8. Social cluster – infant and maternal mortality • Infant and under-five mortality rate is unacceptably high – almost four times WHO’s minimum target – and appears on the increase. Infant mortality rates not disaggregated by gender. Predominant in rural areas, with HIV leading cause of death of children under 5 in every province. • Leading cause for death in children 5-15: girls – HIV; boys road traffic accidents (death by HIV rate is half that of girls) – should inform HIV prevention measures adopted by state • Need for more access, outreach and awareness on immunisation and nutrition and food security in rural areas, and more interventions targeting men • Maternal mortality – on the increase – and 60% avoidable; predominant in rural areas; - largely caused by health systems failures (availability of blood and ICU facilities, skilled staff, resources); difficulties in accessing TOP • Access to basic health care - health issues impacting on women not affecting budget allocation; 95% receive some form of ANC, 85% births attended by practitioner; transport to health facilities – esp in rural areas – key access issue • Need to see more programmes promoting involvement of men in maternal health care

9. Social cluster – HIV and other diseases • Gender issues are at the centre of HIV prevention challenge. Almost all sexually active women and men in 15-19 age group engaging in high risk sex – multiple partners and low condom usage; education level impact on condom use. Inadequate female-controlled barrier methods – inadequate supply of female condom; and controversy surrounding microbicides trials. Need for more awareness and social norm-changing targeting men – some positive examples • Strategic plan acknowledges women’s vulnerability to HIV, and commits to prioritising interventions addressing causes of gender inequality and impact of HIV on women and girls. Encouraging decline of HIV incidence in women aged 15-24; and decline overall, although levels remain too high. High rate of infection in rural provinces attributed to gender power relations • Young girls’ particular vulnerability to HIV – gender power inequalities; older sexual partners – targeted by older men; little support and guidance. • Women bear brunt of caring for those infected – need to encourage, recruit and train men to assist with care, particularly for women living with HIV • Malaria incidence on increase; worrying long-term impact of renewed use of DDT for prevention; need interventions to address women’s particular vulnerability to malaria and TB

10. Key findings – political power • 55% of registered voters are women. • SA does not have legislation requiring parity in party candidate lists, or in decision-making posts, with such measures left to individual parties to decide. Only ANC has voluntarily adopted 50/50 quota system for PR lists, which has transformed women’s representation in Parliament (45%), Cabinet (41%), provincial legislatures (42%) and local government (39%). • Worrying trend of women appointees being replaced by male candidates • More women PR councillors than ward councillors, reflecting entrenched attitudes towards women in leadership; and few women councillors stand for second term, as a a result of discrimination. • Women are under-represented in management positions within departments and municipalities, and the private sector, with very poor gender transformation demonstrated in terms of appointment, recruitment and skills training for women to progress to senior management, and inadequate policies to transform male-dominated environments. • Judiciary, political parties and trade unions also poor ito gender transformation

11. Key findings – sustainable development • Women’s empowerment and gender equality are key ingredients for sustainable development. Yet women remain largely absent at all levels of policy formulation and decision-making in natural resource and environmental management, conservation, protection and rehabilitation, and their experience and skills in monitoring of proper natural resource management remain largely untapped. Positive reports from DWAF interventions involving women. • Women are rarely trained as professional natural resource managers with policy making capacities, such as land-use planners, agriculturalists, foresters, marine scientists and environmental lawyers. Even where women have received such training, they are often underrepresented in policy/decision-making structures. • Access to clean, renewable energy is a key gender issue, as women spend a disproportionate portion of their day collecting fuel for household use, and their use of coal and other fuels in the home impacts negatively on their health and that of their children. • Despite increase in access to basic water services, women in rural areas largely rely on rainfall and groundwater as primary sources of water, often exposing their families to health risks. Women are disproportionately impacted by the lack of sanitation facilities, particularly in rural areas and informal settlements.

12. Key findings – Security cluster (GBV) • GBV continues unabated in SA, with brutality against women and girls rampant. One in two women might be raped in her lifetime; a women is raped every 26 seconds; one in four women is in an abusive relationship; and one in four girls has been sexually abused. Dangerous indication of “normalising” of GBV. • Welcome interventions ito introduction of Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Acts; SOCA unit established in NPA; creation of Thutuzela Care Centres and Sexual Offences Courts; development of Victim Empowerment Plan and Charter. Awaiting Trafficking in Persons legislation. Concerns however around uneven nature of and inadequate resources, training and awareness for effective implementation of these measures. • Poor conviction rate for GBV, and non-implementation of minimum sentencing, and often gender-insensitive, judgemental and inappropriate response from police and judges, reinforcing gender stereotypes. • Inadequate and uneven access to counselling and support services, and places of safety. • Certain harmful cultural practices continue, such as virginity testing, ukuthwala, FGM, ukungena, and under-age engagement. Require awareness and enforcement of existing laws to address infringement of rights of the girl-child.

13. Recommendations • Review macro-economic policies to ensure gender responsive; accelerate infrastructure development in rural areas – huge positive impact on women • Need for better, more reliable data capture, accurately classified and disaggregated on basis of gender • Government departments need to tailor responses ito programmes and budgets to respond to disparities in vulnerability, need, access and impact • Draw women into local resource planning, management and monitoring • Need to address rural and urban disparity – key factor in access to necessary services impacting on women’s quality of life • More outreach and awareness programmes for men – bring them into care net • Need to address skills and attitudes of state employees – entrench discrimination and poor access to services • Strengthen M&E – with particular engendered indicators – to assess implementation and determine impact of policies and programmes designed to address gender inequality and women’s empowerment. Need for more resources, training and awareness for effective implementation • Enforce legislative measures to address discrimination in workplace, and address particular vulnerabilities of farm and domestic workers

14. Conclusion • The Millennium Declaration identified peace, security and development, including environment, human rights and governance, as key global development challenges. The Declaration resolved amongst other things, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as an effective way to combat poverty, hunger and disease, and stimulate sustainable development. • While commitments, development of ground-breaking policy and targeted programmes towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment must be acknowledged and welcomed, unless the South African government takes decisive steps to ensure that its policies, programmes and interventions designed to give effect to the implementation of all the MDGs, speak to the particular vulnerabilities and needs of women and girl children, we will not see a full realisation of these goals.