SERVICES OF THE COMMISSION OF GENDER EQUALITY

1. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

In order to achieve its objective as provided in Section 11 (b) (2) of the Commission ACT, the Commission's Department of Public Education and Information shall:

Develop, Conduct or Manage Information and Educational Programmes,

To foster public understanding of the matters pertaining to the promotion on Gender Equality and the role and activities of the Commission.

The department Liaise and interact with organisations with the intent of promoting gender equality. It serves as an interface between the Commission and the public and also acts as the Public Relations arm of the Commission through its information dissemination. Answering all public enquiries about gender issues, gender equality and the work of the Commission.

Business Objectives

The business objectives for the department are to:

  • Ensure effective co-ordination and alignment between and within the national and provincial programmes taking provincial dynamics into account.
  • Creates strategic linkages nationally to ensure mutual support, effective collaboration and recognition of the need to promote gender equality by:
  • Markets the CGE at all levels.
  • Identifies and liaises with men's movements in order to effect democracy and gender equality.
  • Collaborates with organisations that are fighting violence against women.
  • Ensures gender equity and mainstreaming in government departments, through effective positioning and institutionalisation of Gender Focal Points at all levels of government and in collaboration with gender machinery.

2. RESOURCE CENTRE

In order to carry out its information-dissemination and education function, as well as expand its knowledge of matters related to gender equality, the CGE has established a specialized and computerized resource centre that functions as a reference library. The CGE aims to make the centre accessible to a broad spectrum of users.

Who may use the Resource Centre

Staff of the Commission and commissioners are entitled to use the resource centre. It is also open to a broad range of users including organisations with interests similar to those of the CGE, officials from government departments, students as well as those involved in research, training and advocacy on gender equality and women's issues.

The Collection

The CGE resource centre strives to maintain an up-to-date collection in the field of gender equality and women-related issues. The resource centre currently has a substantial collection consisting of various reports, working papers, law reports and statutes, books, journals, videos, press clippings and audiocassettes.

The collection is divided in the following categories and sub-categories among others:

Gender Equality

Violence Against Women
Gender & Law
Gender & development
Women's Rights
Gender & Business/Employment
Gender & Economy

The Journal/Magazine Section

A large collection of local and foreign periodicals, magazines, newsletters and pamphlets on gender and women-related issues are available. The CGE subscribes to few journals and most newsletters are received free of charge from various organisations and institutions.

Audio Visual Section

The resource centre has a growing collection of videos on gender-related issues like sexual harassment, violence against women, women empowerment, female genital mutilation and women's rights.

Other Material

Books, reports and press clippings also form part of the collections.

Information Requests

An inquiry service is available to the public and staff of CGE. Enquiries may be made through personal visits, telephone calls, post and e - mail. Faxing of information not exceeding 10 pages is also provided. Videos on gender-related issues can be watched at the resource centre during open hours.

Speaker Series

The resource centre host seminars every two months on different topics related to gender. Speakers from various organizations and institutions are invited to give presentations to members of the public and to CGE staff members.

One of the main aims of hosting these seminars is to promote the use of the CGE resource centre. They are also aimed at raising awareness to public on various events related to gender issues.

3. RESEARCH

The Department of Policy and Research is tasked with:

  • researching preparation and presentation of project proposals like partnerships on policy workshops, democracy conferences, fact finding - private sector, elections, spatial development initiatives, inputs into drafting white papers etc), organising related meetings/ workshops/ conferences, preparing memos, identifying service providers and providing input for financial reporting as approved by plenary,
  • facilitating CGE's involvement in partnership initiatives, e.g. race conferences, policy workshops;
  • identifying appropriate sources and preparing input for policy documents; presentations by the department, the chair and commissioners;
  • Liaising with various role players, and supplying input to / and updating CGE with current developments in Gender Equality locally and internationally. The department also liaises with the following CGE members:

LEGAL DEPARTMENT

The Commission's Legal Department had been set up to:

  • Investigate gender related complaints.
  • Evaluate laws, customs, practices and Indigenous law, personal and family law affecting gender equality or status of women that are in force or proposed by Parliament.
  • Recommend to parliament the adoption of laws that will promote gender equality and status of women.
  • Monitor compliance with international conventions, covenants and International Charters acceded and ratified by the government that have a bearing on the object of the CGE.
  • Make Contribution / submission to law making process especially in laws that affect women adversely and have a bearing on gender equality in South Africa.

The Legal Department inducted the participants on the use of Complaint Forms used during an interview with the Complainant.