Budgeting for women

PARLIAMENT’S Multiparty Women’s Caucus has urged all government departments to ensure gender-sensitive budgeting that takes the needs of women into account.

Committee chairperson Masefele Story Morutoa called for an MPWC meeting as departments will be presenting their annual performance plans and budgets for the 2018/19 financial year. MPs were urged to be vigilant when scrutinising the plans and budgets in order to ensure gender equality was pushed through.

“We are relying on you, as our eyes and ears on the various portfolio committees, including the select committees in the National Council of Provinces,” Morutoa said.

The MPWC has received a briefing from the Ministry of Women in the Presidency on the progress of the implementation of the SA Integrated Programme of Action Addressing Violence Against Women and Children.

The MPWC heard about the various campaigns the government had introduced to address violence against women and children.

This includes the #365 Days campaign where the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign was extended to an all-year campaign.

#CountMeIn, a social media tool for mass mobilisation of communities to promote collective responsibility, was also started to eradicate violence against women and children. National dialogues have taken place in four provinces, with the latest one in North West.

Morutoa said the key to addressing challenges that women faced daily was to prioritise gender-sensitive budgeting, change the indicators regarding targets on women’s matters and for all, irrespective of political affiliation, to stand together to address violence against women and children. Rajaa Azzakani Parliamentary Communication Services