Second annual Gender Justice and Local Government Summit

Second annual Gender Justice and Local Government Summit


Date: March 26, 2011
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365 Days of local action to end gender violence:
Halve gender violence by 2015
28-30 March 2011

Press briefing will be held at Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre on Sunday 27 March at 17.00
For more information contact Mona Hakimi on +27 (0)79 969 1954

More than 265 participants from ten Southern African countries will converge in Johannesburg, South Africa from 28-30 March 2011 for the second Gender Justice and Local Government Summit. The event showcases examples of local efforts to end gender violence and empower women across Southern Africa.

Convened by Gender Links under the banner 365 Days of local action to end gender violence, the summit is being attended by journalists, local government authorities, municipalities, NGOs and representatives of ministries of gender and local government.

The annual Summit this year coincides with Gender Links’ 10th anniversary on 30 March 2011. In line with the target set in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development for halving gender violence by 2015, the specific themes this year are: “Gender and local elections” on day one and “Leaders speak out on gender violence” on day two.

Dubbed the “Idols” of gender justice and local government, the 124 good practices entered in seven different categories will be judged by the audience and also a panel of distinguished judges. The Summit’s most exciting highlight will be the Gender Justice and Local Government Awards, to be presented at a gala dinner on 30 March.

Entrants include the Chrysalide rehabilitation programme for former drug addicts and sex workers in Mauritius; a South African support centre for the victims of corrective rape; and a Zambian police victims unit that provides support to victims of gender violence.

Each award will have a winner and a runner-up. They will be presented according to the following eight categories:

  • Prevention of Gender Violence at local level: how do councils work to end GV? There are 12 entries for this award.
  • 16 Days campaigns, including cyber dialogues: four entries have been submitted.
  • Response to GV at local level: what do councils do to advance legal literacy, work with local police, etc? This category had 12 entries.
  • Support around gender violence at local level – how do we support those who have experienced GV? 16 entries have been received for this category. Empowerment of women at local level: How do councils enhance the ability of women to take control of their lives? There were 22 entries in this category.
  • Centre of excellence: 20 entries have been submitted.
  • Institutional good practices: 12 entries nave been submitted.
  • Leadership: two awards will be presented to individuals/leaders who show particular innovation and dedication to ending GV at the local level – 10 entries have been submitted.

The Summit kicks off on 28 March with a panel discussion about local elections in the SADC region. Ahead of elections in South Africa, it will feature an interactive debate with representatives and Permanent Secretaries from SADC countries, including Thoko Mpumlwana, Deputy Chairperson of the IEC and GL Board member.

Following the plenary session parallel seminars on Centres of Excellence and Women Empowerment will convene and run over two days. Sessions on Support; Response; and Prevention will also take place on 28 March.

On Tuesday 29 March, the Gender Links Gender Justice team will launch a groundbreaking research report on how leaders prioritise gender violence. The analysis looked at 1956 political speeches, including 118 speeches delivered by President Jacob Zuma, looking for references to gender violence.

The Enough is Enough Campaign, launched on International Women’s Day this year, will also be presented. This will be followed by parallel discussions on Institutional good practice; the 16 Days campaign; and leadership.

The final day, 30 March, Summit participants will take to the streets of Johannesburg for field visits that will expose them to some of the excellent gender initiatives being undertaken in South Africa. Awards will be presented in the evening at a gala dinner which will also celebrate Gender Links’ 10th Anniversary. GL will also launch Giant Footprints, a 316-page book documenting its achievements over the last ten years.

This will feature video footage documenting some of the grassroots initiatives from the region. Footage can be made available on request.

The Summit will be held at:
Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre
243 Glengory Road Benoni 1500

Gender Links will host a media briefing at the above venue at 17.00 on Sunday, 27 March.

For more information and a full Summit programme visit the Gender Links website or contact: Mona Hakimi publications@genderlinks.org.za Cell phone: +27 (0)79 969 1954


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