May 14, 2010 - In an attempt to stimulate dialogue, together with the Gender Advocacy Programme, the Commission for Gender Equality and the Heinrich Boll Stiftung hosted an event on “Challenges to Mainstreaming Gender in Legislation and Governance: Comparative Perspectives" in Cape Town on the 3rd February 2010. The roundtable brought together public representatives, civil society organisations and academics.  more»

The Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities: A Cure All for All Kinds of Inequalities? – February 25, 2010 - While the issue of a Women’s Ministry was raised during the transitional phase it was never considered a viable option for the following reasons: limited success in terms of policy impact both in the West and in developing countries, and a dumping ground for all issues dealing with women. By Amanda Gouws more»

Women in the executive: Can women's ministries make a difference? – February 2, 2010 - This article attempts an analysis of Women’s Ministries (structures on the level of the executive) that are normally tasked with the implementation of policy and legislation. It does so by looking at the experience of Women’s Ministries in the north, as well as in Africa. It also reflects on the more recent histories in the north of the dismantling of gender machineries as a consequence of gender mainstreaming. By Amanda Gouws more»

SADC Protocol on Gender and Development Seminar – November 12, 2009 - On the 19th November 2009 the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP) will in partnership with the Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women (WCNOVAW), and with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Commission on Gender Equality host a seminar on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. more»

Submission on the 11-Year Implementation of the Domestic Violence Act – November 2, 2009 - Following the announcement by the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities (“the Committee) that it would host public hearings on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act No. 116 of 1998 (“the DVA”) over the last 11 years since its promulgation, the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP) and the Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women (WCNOVAW) partnered to initiate a process to mobilize civil society organizations working in the area of domestic violence in the Western Cape to respond to this invitation. more»

Review Seminar on the Domestic Violence Act – October 21, 2009 - On Thursday October 15th the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP) in partnership with the Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women (WCNOVAW) hosted a seminar to review the Domestic Violence Act 11 years on. The seminar sought to build and draw on expert knowledge from civil society organisations and other stakeholders in preparation for public hearings to be held 28th and 29th of October 2009. more»

Presentation to Committee on the 10-year Review of the Implementation of the Domestic Violence Act – September 16, 2009 - On 9 September 2009, the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP) facilitated a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities by Lisa Vetten, Tshwaranang’s senior researcher and policy analyst, on comprehensive research documenting the challenges of implementing South Africa’s Domestic Violence Act (DVA). more»

Polokwane – Taking women one step forward or two steps back? – August 14, 2009 - Historically, women have been excluded from public life and still occupy largely peripheral and powerless positions when they do enter that realm. For this reason, women have developed a different voice, which can be described as a “submerged discourse”. This paper will engage with the extent to which the ANC, through the resolutions adopted at Polokwane in 2007, has attempted to create a policy framework within which the new government seeks to render women’s “submerged discourses” visible. By Joy Watson more»

Fix the gender machine – May 25, 2009 - The creation of another structure in the form of a ministry to promote the rights of women, this time alongside other disempowered groups, is ill-considered. A more worthwhile effort would have been to fix the problems plaguing the existing gender structures, rather than creating a whole new bureaucracy. By Christi van der Westhuizen more»