SHARE:
Manka Community Council is located in the district of Leribe and it joined the Centers of Excellence (COE) process in 2015. The council has completed the 10 stages of the process.
The council has done gender work plan and the gender policy is drafted by the ministry of gender. Within a council, there is a gender focal person. There are 19 councillors in Manka, 11 male councillors and eight female councillors. .
There are three committees within the council, with one being chaired by a woman. The council does not have people with disabilities (PWD) within its three committees, and there is no Junior Council in Manka Community Council.
Young people, PWD and community members participate in community-based planning projects and meetings. Between 51 and 75 percent, women participate in public consultations. The council is holding public GA disseminating issues of gender sensitivity in all life activities within its electoral divisions. Some other departments have not been engaged due to constraints.
The council’s workforce consists of about 37 percent women and 63 percent men employed. Within the council, there are no youth and PWD employed. Women are still not part of the council management.
There are provisions for maternity leave and paternity leave. The council issues out paid maternity leave for three months and one month paternity leave. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy. Cases of sexual harassment, if there are any, are reported to the police.
In terms of gender-based violence (GBV) awareness the council usual gets assistance from police officers from the department of CGPU to disseminate information on GBV within the community. Hence the council is therefore experiencing less reports on GBV. The council is now to hold an event of Sixteen Days of Activism within its boundaries on GBV awareness.
There has been no budget line to support gender equality projects. Hence, Manka Community Council did not allocate any substantial budget to gender-related projects from in 2015 and 2016.
As part of the of the Council’s family planning campaign, The social service committee usually gives information on family planning in its public gatherings and it gets support from health department by its officials. The council issues out females and males condoms as well. Sexual and Reproduction and Health Rights (SRHR) facilities are highly accessible to young people, especially young women, and PWD.
Click here to read more about Manka Community Council.
Comment on Summit 2016- Manka Council COE