PWM+voice+for+SA+women,+ANC+Today

ANC Today, Volume 6, No. 10, 17-23 March 2006 (part)
=WOMEN'S MOVEMENT=


 * //A progressive voice for South African women//**

The road towards the establishment of a South African women's movement has become a lot shorter with the formation on 8 March, International Women's Day, of a steering committee to lead the process towards the establishment of a Progressive Women's Movement (PWM).

At a consultative meeting of women from different sectors of society it was decided to work towards the formation of a non-governmental organisation that seeks to ensure that all progressive women structures and individuals have a platform through which they can actively participate in the broader development agenda of the country.

The meeting was attended by representatives from faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional women, business women, rural women, workers, political parties and young women.

The steering committee will be convened by ANC Women's League Deputy President Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini and includes representatives from most sectors who attended the meeting. The committee has been tasked with further consultation among women's organisations to seek an endorsement of the concept of a women's movement and finalise a founding document. It also needs to draw up a minimum platform of action. The committee will convene a consultative workshop before the launch of the movement, which is set to take place in August 2006.

This initiative takes place during the year of the 50th anniversary of the 1956 women's anti-pass march to the Union Buildings. The formation of a progressive women's movement is an event of great significance, echoing the watershed moment fifty years ago when the women of South Africa spoke with one voice against discrimination and oppression. The progressive women's movement will need to take up the same struggle, uniting the largest possible cross-section of South African women in this effort.

The effort to establish a women's movement in South Africa began a number of years ago. A decision to begin discussions about the formation of a national women's structure was taken at the Malibongwe Conference in Amsterdam in the Netherlands in January 1990.

During the political negotiations around the transition to democracy a coalition was formed of women with different political backgrounds and from different political affiliations. Through the Women's National Coalition women were able to articulate their demands through representation in the negotiations process and through the Women's Charter for Effective Equality. This charter was presented by women to the first democratic government under the leadership of the then President Nelson Mandela. Many aspects of the charter are now reflected in the present constitution.

The Women's National Coalition disintegrated after the adoption of constitution. However, the idea of a women's movement outlasted the coalition, and has remained on the agenda. The ANC and the ANC Women's League (ANCWL) have held the view that there is a need for some kind of organic structure that will take up broader issues of women in South African society.

The ANC and its Alliance partners have discussed a women's movement whose key objective would be to ensure that it promotes transformation of South African society into one that is truly non-racial and non-sexist. Over the years various discussion papers and resolutions have been developed and adopted on the purpose, character and proposed programme of such a movement.

The ANCWL National Executive Committee decided at its meeting in October 2005 that it was an opportune moment for South African women to formalise the women's movement. The idea is that this movement be a broad front of women's organisations, grassroots organisations, feminist groups, researchers, and women involved in policy formulation.

This women's movement should be progressive, diverse, shaped by local struggles and it should acknowledge that women in South Africa are not homogeneous. It should seek the transformation of South Africa into a non-sexist, non-racial, democratic, united and prosperous society. It should have an understanding of social relationships of class, race, ethnicity, age and religion. It should respond to specific conditions of gender inequality through a minimum platform for action.

Among the principles that guide the women's movement should be the fight for women's emancipation and gender equality; it should fight patriarchy; develop a minimum and single platform for action; and work towards common policy positions. Members of the movement should agree to differ where necessary, and maintain the independence of member organisations while working towards unity of purpose.

The women's movement should target women from different sectors to ensure representivity. These should include women from rural areas, the business and professional sectors, faith-based organisations, workers, young women, women with disabilities, elderly women, unemployed women, and women from political parties.

Among its areas of focus, the movement would need to address issues of economic transformation as it impacts on the lives of women. This would include questions of access to economic resources, job creation, self-employment, access to credit, and access to technology.

It should address issues of social transformation, particularly as they affect the lives of women living in poverty. It should work to improve access to housing, health care, land, basic infrastructure, social grants and social services, and education and skills.

The movement should also work towards the achievement of 50% representation in all governance and decision-making bodies. It should play an advocacy role in promoting progressive laws that help to empower women.

The movement would need to build relations beyond South Africa and monitor the implementation of international instruments for women's development and empowerment. This would include establishing relations with the Pan African Women's Organisation and other international bodies.

916 words
 * From: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2006/at10.htm#art1