Women’s sector progress report and plans

Implementing the NSP

Inter Parliamentary Union

22 January 2009

Nomfundo Eland

Sector’s objectives

Consolidate the Women’s Sector by expanding and improving coordination within

Popularize the NSP & ensure activities are carried out (where we are a lead sector)

Ensure that women’s/gender issues are appropriately emphasized in the work of SANAC sectors

What we are still faced with

Rise in GBV fuels HIV feminised epidemic Maternal deaths Prevention methods that does not improve

status of women (non-availability of female condoms)

Service accessibility for rural women. No link between National, provincial and local

structures in understanding the NSP.

Women’s summit 2007

+300 delegates convened nationally to engage on the NSP and re-organization of SANAC

Consensus reached on the conspicuous absence of:– Women’s voices in previous government responses to

HIV/AIDS– Sexual and reproductive health issues in NSP

Summit culminated in:– Election of 3 representatives to SANAC: 2007-2009– Support for the (amended) 2007-2011 NSP – 30 volunteers for participation in and across revised SANAC

coordinating committees and structures– A declaration of commitment

Key Imperatives of a Secretariat

To be a nerve centre that promotes, advances and roots women’s participation through:– Networking– Mobilization – Communication– Advocacy– Research

Summit 2008

Election of new leadership Restructure the way we operate (expect

groups) Sex Workers, GBV, Plan of action drafted based on priority

issues in the NSP Liasing with other sector on common issues

to be undertaken. Undertake to update website

SANAC WSS Progress

A comprehensive plan of action, mapping out the work of the Secretariat was developed in September 2007. Since the development of this implementation plan, the SANAC Women’s Sector has:

Established a functioning Secretariat; Developed a comprehensive implementation plan, with five

main objectives as a framework for SANAC WSS work; Explored the development and conceptualisation of a database

of women’s organisations and individuals that will appropriately map and store information on the women’s sector across the country (primary development to be completed at end March 2008);

Progress continue

Explored the development of a website that outlines the work of the Secretariat with a focus on ensuring that the site is as widely accessible to as many women as possible (to be completed by April 2008);

Newsletter for communities that can’t access technology

Mobilised funding to conceptualise and implement initial activities; and

Participated on existing SANAC structures to ensure Women’s participation at a range of levels

Work done thus far

MC and impact on women GBV and criminal justice system review PMTCT social mobilisation Prevention and female condom access (in preparation for

discussions on Prevention strategies) Resource mobilisation Effective participation in SANAC plenary WAD messaging and angle Sexual Offences Act (Decriminalisation of sex work workshop) Support sector members in presenting what the NSP is and

how SANAC functions and how the NSP could be taken forward

Work planned

Prevention for women workshop (Access to femidoms; research update)

Priority issues ( Stigma, Alcohol and Drug, Maternal and Child mortality – death of young women of child bearing age, nutrition, GBV and access to health services, HPV and Cervical cancer)

Focus on reduction of Maternal deaths (PMTCT Social mobilisation)

Provincial consultations on MC NSP workshops Assessment of sector member contribution towards

implementation of NSP