Summit 2016 – Quthing Urban Council COE

Quthing Urban council   is located in the town of Quthing which is well known as Moyeni and it is also the capital of the district. The council borders on Mohale’s Hoek District in the north and Qacha’s Nek District in the northeast.

The council has achieved no progress in terms of gender policies as people are still behind and are not aware of the Post 2015 SADC Gender Protocol, SDGs and other relevant targets. The council has six male councillors and eight male councillors. There are more females in the council than men. However, the council is still looking into giving more women opportunities to lead.

The council has three committees in which one is being chaired by a woman. The council has more men in high positions. It is still trying to involve more women, youth and people with disabilities (PWD). There is no Junior Council within the Quthing.

Women, PWD and young people actively participate in the council work. They take initiation in water committees, including sanitation. Approximately 26% and 50% women participate in public consultations. With the help from the community members, the council opts to achieve a lot with their public gatherings on water and sanitation.

The council has employed 44% men, 36% women, 12% youth and 8% PWD making the total workforce of the council. Women make up 50@ of the council’s management, and the finance officer is a woman. The proportion of women in the council is stable and they are looking to have more women within the council in future.

There are provisions for maternity leave and it lasts for three months. While on maternity leave, women get paid, and the council also provides one month paternity leave. The council does not have a policy against sexual harassment. However, if there are any cases of sexual harassment reported the council works with government policy to deal with such. Moreover, the council reports gender-based violence (GBV) cases to the police, and there is a good relationship between police and the community.

Quthing Urban Council allocates a substantial budget to gender-related projects for 2016.

As part of the Council’s local economic development plan, market places are designed and stalls are allocated to both women and men. This could help develop men and women’s entrepreneurship skills within the community and also boost the country’s economy. With jobs created by the council, 55% men, 36% women and 9% youth have benefited.

The council participates in sixteen Days of Activism to create awareness against GBV cases, rape and violence against women and children. Women and men are equally represented in such campaigns and they also participate actively in the community policing forums.

Click here to read more about Quthing Council.