Southern Africa Local Government and Gender Summit and Awards: 22 – 24 March 2010

Southern Africa Local Government and Gender Summit and Awards

‘365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END GENDER VIOLENCE: WHAT WORK’
22 – 24 March 2010

The first Southern Africa Gender Justice and Local Government Summit from 22 – 24 March 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa will show case what is working on the ground in empowering women and closing in on gender violence.. Closing dates for applications for submissions are on or before the 22 February 2010. Interested parties are encouraged to apply or register online at www.genderlinks.org.za.

Under the banner “365 Days of local action to end gender violence: what works?” the summit will include key note addresses and parallel seminars by international and local experts in the field of gender violence at local government level, and gender justice.

The first gender justice and local government summit aims to bring together local government councillors and officials, ministries of gender representatives, ministries of local government, local government associations, gender activists, civil society organisations, international partners and other intersred individuals or groups. The summit will feature awards on good practices in ending gender violence, provide an opportunity to document and disseminate these good practices as well as give incentives to local authorities to innovate new and effective strategies for combating violence against women. Parallel seminars on promoting women’s representation, empowerment and effective participation in local government structures will be a key feature at the summit.

The SADC Gender and Development Protocol signed in August 2008 set a target for governments to halve current levels of gender based violence by 2015. It also emphasises that States should adopt an integrated approach to address gender violence.

Local municipalities in several SADC countrieshave developed gender action plans where gender violence features as a key service delivery issue. Hence many initiatives to prevention gender violence have been adopted. As a region, we realise that the quest to end gender based violence is far from over. Many of the gender violence initiatives that we as region have pursued succeeded in raising awareness and preventing GBV but very little effort has been made to document and share these rich experiences.

To address this gap, Gender Links, working with local authorities and other strategic partners will host a Southern Africa Gender Justice and Local Government Summit and Awards from the 22 – 24 of March 2010 in Johannesburg South Africa and it is envisaged that this will become an annual event.

The Gender justice and local government Summit will cover a range of categories including:

• Prevention of GBV at local level (how do councils work to ensure that GBV does not occur), response to GBV at local level (what do councils do to advance legal literacy, work with local police, etc. to ensure redress for victims),
• Institutional good practises (e.g. council working together on GBV; e.g. lobbying for a GBV budget in IDPs / municipality’s annual strategic plans), etc, support around GBV at local level (how do we support those who have experienced GBV),
• Innovative communication strategies (messaging, slogans, banners and posters to end GBV that have an impact), specific GBV campaigns (e.g. 16 Days campaigns, lighting campaigns, etc) and
• Individual innovation (three prizes will be awarded to individuals who show particular innovation and dedication to ending GBV at the local level).

Applicants need to submit a completed application form, photos, newspaper articles, clippings, etc. and any other documentation that can strengthen your application, e.g. CD’s, DVD’s, etc. For more information interested parties can contact: Bonita Visagie on +2711 622 2877 or e-mail at rsalocalgvt2@genderlinks.org.za. Our Physical address is 9 Derrick Avenue, Corner Marcia Avenue, Cyrildene, Johannesburg, 2198, South Africa.