Summit 2017- Siloe Council COE

Siloe  Community Council is situated in Siloe village in the  Mohale’s Hoek  District.

The Council uses the National Gender and Development Policy (2003), as well as SADC Protocol on Gender and Development (2008). Currently the total number of councillors is 17, of which seven of them are women, while 10 are men, and this makes up 48% of women representation. Additionally, in management, two are women while there is only one man and this makes up 67% of women representation in management. Council staff overall is five for women and three for men which makes 63% women representation.

Both the National Gender and Development Policy (2003) and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development (2008) are not well known. More efforts are needed in terms of advocacy and campaigning activities. Women make up 43% representation in the council, of which two of them are Committee Chairpersons of the Council.

There is a provision for maternity leave of three months paid but none for paternity leave. After the first three months of giving birth the mother is again given nursing hours for the three months. The council does not have a sexual harassment policy but report cases at the police station ( Child and Gender Protection Unit – CGPU ) when they occur. The council’s building is disability-friendly and accommodates everybody.

LNFOD, which is an umbrella NGO specifically dealing with people with disabilities in Lesotho has a person who represents people with disabilities by the name of Kabelo Khabanyane (Male), and regularly attends council meetings and ensures that decisions are taken in the interest of people with disabilities.

Siloe Community Council allocated a substantial budget to gender-related projects for the 2017 to 2018.

In waste management programme, council ensures that 60% of total labourers engaged are female. There is also an existence of entrepreneurship finance schemes linked to council that benefit women, men, people living with disability, and youth. In hiring of the vehicles for waste management, 45% is given to female owned companies.

Women work at donga rehabilitation projects where they earn one thousand, two hundred Maloti only monthly

Council allocated 60 sites, of which 23 of them have specifically allocated to women

Yes! The committees exist, and water maintenance and extensions are carried out. They are also gender responsive, as the stand pipes are located in nearby places.

The council widely distribute condoms for both males and females without discrimination. The council also network and liaise with New Start to embark on Test and Treat Campaigns and holding of public gatherings and door to door campaigns. Everyone has equal access to treatment and also public buildings are user friendly to those on wheelchairs.

In terms of prevention of Gender based violence; Gender and sex education has been conducted to students, and community policing forums (Crime prevention committees – Mahokela) were also trained

Public Awareness  :  Several Public gatherings were held to sensitize the communities

Response and Coordination:  Victims report violence to Social Development Officers at the council who then refer them to relevant departments like CGPU. 10 Cases have been reported, referred and the victims have been assisted accordingly.

Support and Empowerment:  Support groups have been formed to provide guidance and support to victims, and Mahokela have been trained on how to handle criminals. Also the Gender Committee  has been formed within the council.

Click here to read more about the Siloe Community Council.