Gauteng Provincial Legislature Private Bag X52 Johannesburg, PDF Free Download

Gauteng Provincial Legislature Private Bag X52 Johannesburg, 2000 Tel: +27(0) 11 498 5555 Fax: +27(0) 11 498 5999 www.gpl.gov.za Gauteng Legislature condemns violence against Women & Children Gauteng Provincial Legislature Private Bag X52 Johannesburg, 2000 Tel: +27(0) 11 498 5555 Fax: +27(0) 11 498 5999 www.gpl.gov.za Gauteng Legislature condemns violence against Women & Children

GAUTENG LEGISLATURE MULTI-PARTY WOMEN S CAUCUS STRATEGY DOCUMENT Socio-Economic Exclusion of Vulnerable Groups NOT ON OUR WATCH

CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2 1.1. VISION 2 1.2. MISSION 2 1.3. CORE VALUES 2 1.4. STRATEGIC GOAL 3 1.5. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 3 1.6. GPL OPERATING MODEL 3 1.7. GPL STANDING RULES: VERSION 5 REVISION 2, 2013 4 2. MANDATE OF THE GAUTEND LEGISLATURE MULTI-PARTY WOMEN S CAUCUS 4 3. AREAS OF STRATEGIC FOCUS 5 4. WHAT DRIVES THE GAUTENG LEGISLATURE MULTI-PARTY WOMEN S CAUCUS? 6 5. METHODOLOGY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK 6 6. GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS 8

1. INTRODUCTION The Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus constitutes women parliamentarians who; irrespective of gender, race, religion, culture, class and political affiliation, are united by a common interest in respect of the economic and socio-political wellbeing of women, including young women and persons with disability in Gauteng. Thus operating within the core values of the Gauteng Legislature, the GPL Multi-Party Women s Caucus serves as an advisory and influencing entity in the Gauteng Legislature, in pursuit of the economic and socio-political development of women in the province. The operations, interactions and work ethic of the Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus are premised on the Vision, Mission, Core Values, Strategic Goal and Objectives, Operating Model, as well as the Standing Rules of the Legislature as outlined below: 1.1. VISION A modern and transformative legislature that fosters public pride and confidence in democracy and enhances service delivery to the people of Gauteng. 1.2. MISSION In observing our constitutional obligations, Gauteng Legislature is: Is a modern and dynamic African Legislature of the 21st Century. Is a caring, responsive, activist and transformative Legislature. Reflects the values, aspirations and cultures of the South African people. Is the most competent, accessible, transparent and accountable Legislature. Fosters ethical and good governance. Attracts, develops, and retains skilled and professional staff, and Recognises staff contributions, rewards their achievements and provide a stimulating environment. 1.3. CORE VALUES We believe in and strive for: Moral Integrity Being honourable and following ethical principles. Goal Oriented Working diligently to achieve results. Team Work Being cooperative and working well with others. Courtesy Being polite and having respect for individual dignity. Development Encouraging the achievement of growth, learning and development. Economy Being responsible and careful in spending. 2 Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus Strategy Document: June 2016

Excellence Continuous improvement in performance and standards. Openness Being sincere and candid in discussions. Participation Involvement of everyone in decision-making processes. Social Equality No unfair discrimination, directly or indirectly against anyone, on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, class, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscious belief, culture, language and birth, and Professionalism Being knowledgeable with a non-partisan positive attitude as well as proficient in executing duties. 1.4. STRATEGIC GOAL To be a responsive Legislature that fosters public confidence. 1.5. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 1.5.1. Improved Accountability by the Executive to the Legislature in respect of service delivery. 1.5.2. Improved meaningful involvement by the public in Legislature business. 1.5.3. Increased responsiveness of Laws to meet the needs of the people of Gauteng. 1.5.4. Fostered coherent and coordinated legislative sector. 1.5.5. Enhanced public confidence in the governance and leadership of the Legislature. 1.5.6. Modernised business practices towards supporting the functions of the Legislature. 1.6. GPL OPERATING MODEL ADMINISTRATION (INCLUDING SECRETARIAT) SUBCOMMITIES OF THE LSB LSB COMMITIES OF THE HOUSE HOUSE 3

1.7. GPL STANDING RULES: VERSION 5 REVISION 2, 2013 Part 3: Promotion of Human Rights 65(1) All reports as prescribed herein, submitted by a Member of the Executive Council must have specific indicators concerning measures taken by his/her department or entity under his/her responsibility in promoting: a) Gender equality, b) Youth development, c) Rights of people with disabilities, and d) Any other rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights. 65(2) The Legislature highlights the importance of enabling women, youth and persons with disabilities to participate in deliberations on matters relating to women, youth and persons with disabilities thus encouraging inclusiveness through a) Ensuring that the legislature, through its Committees, pays attention to issues relating to gender, youth and persons with disabilities when it conducts oversight, b) Ensuring that the concerns of women, youth and persons with disabilities are adequately taken into account in the public participation programme of the Legislature, and c) Ensuring that the Executive pays attention to issues relating to gender, youth and persons with disabilities. 65(3) Committees must report quarterly to the House on the role they played in promoting matters of gender, youth and persons with Disabilities. 2. MANDATE OF THE GAUTEND LEGISLATURE MULTI-PARTY WOMEN S CAUCUS The Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus is an advisory, consultative and influencing entity in the Gauteng Legislature, through: 2.1. Advocacy for the interests and concerns of women Members of the Legislature. 2.2. Championing discussions of women s issues in the Legislature. 2.3. Making submissions on women s issues to relevant Committees. 2.4. Championing the mainstreaming of gender and human rights in the business of the Legislature. 2.5. Promoting gender perspectives in the programming of debates. 4 Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus Strategy Document: June 2016

2.6. Getting involved in debates on developmental and women empowerment issues in political structures across spheres of government, institutions supporting democracy, non-governmental organisations and other civil society organisations. 2.7. Bench-marking the work of the Caucus through national and international bestpractice standards. 2.8. Promoting knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the mainstreaming of gender and human rights in legislative processes. 2.9. Organising/hosting and attending conferences, seminars and other fora to share knowledge in relation to gender and human rights mainstreaming in the legislative sector, including encouraging exchange visits between Legislatures nationally and internationally. 2.10. Encourage compliance to national and international gender and human rights mainstreaming instruments, as well as reporting to the relevant authorities in this regard. 2.11. Championing research and publishing of gender and human rights mainstreaming material, relevant to the work of the Caucus. 2.12. Promoting training and development for women parliamentarians, including young women and persons with disabilities. 3. AREAS OF STRATEGIC FOCUS Women s Caucuses may gradually select various areas of focus as informed by priorities in their contexts. A gradual selection of areas is essential as to avoid a situation in which too many goals are created at once and subsequently become difficult to achieve. Various areas of focus may include: 3.1. Assessing and creating a sound policy environment. 3.2. Advocacy, networking and partnerships. 3.3. Training and development, including leadership development. 3.4. Budget and Expenditure analysis. 3.5. Research and bench-marking. 3.6. Field work: initiated and responsive interventions informed by emerging needs in communities. 3.7. Identification and integration of civil society in the activities of the Caucus. 3.8. Championing the mainstreaming of a gender and human rights perspectives in all oversight mechanisms, law-making, public participation, cooperative governance, constituency work, House Rules and other processes of the Legislature. 3.9. Driving compliance to national and international gender and human rights mainstreaming instruments. 5

4. WHAT DRIVES THE GAUTENG LEGISLATURE MULTI-PARTY WOMEN S CAUCUS? As women legislators increasingly entered parliaments and legislatures in the past two decades, advocacy for the establishment of multi-party women s caucuses to support women parliamentarians entering predominantly patriarchal institutions, have also been common. Particularly since women s caucuses have been proven to be effective in bringing women across party lines together to channel the interests and concerns of women, engage civil society and influence legislative processes and provide oversight over the implementation of programmes that enhance the status of women in their diversity. Against this background, the Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus is driven by principles that include the following: 4.1. Women s rights are human rights that are inalienable in all spheres of life. 4.2. All human beings are created equal the Caucus will not tolerate discrimination in any form. 4.3. Advocacy for equal rights and justice. 4.4. Advocacy for equal opportunities. 4.5. Economic and socio-political development for women in their diversity. 4.6. In unity, women will not be swayed. 4.7. Advocacy for the elimination of patriarchal values that hinder women s progress. 4.8. Advocacy for gender and human rights-based legislation and enforcing implementation thereof. 4.9. The Caucus influences the legislative agenda through advocacy and raising awareness. 4.10. The Caucus is a watchdog for gender and human rights issues in the Legislature. 4.11. Promoting the legislative implications of international human rights instruments. 4.12. Caucus members as spokespersons for gender and human rights issues, thereby streamlining information and raising awareness. 5. METHODOLOGY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK As part of the structures of the Gauteng Legislature, the Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus will follow the planning procedures of the Legislature, as informed by the relevant legislation and planning guidelines. The Caucus will; as guided by planning guidelines, conduct a strategic planning session to formulate a strategic direction that the Caucus will take to give effect to its mandate. 6 Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus Strategy Document: June 2016

In the strategic planning session, the Caucus will: 5.1. Conduct a SWOT analysis based on its strategic imperatives; identify priorities and possible interventions to address the priorities. 5.2. Develop short and long-term plans, for implementing the identified interventions, allowing contingencies for uncertainties. 5.3. Conduct a resource analysis exercise to estimate the required resources for the planned interventions, informed by the plans developed (including financial, human and material resource). 5.4. Develop monitoring, evaluation and reporting tools. The strategic planning session should culminate in: 5.5. Standard planning and reporting formats and templates. 5.6. A Caucus 5 Year Strategic Plan, documenting decisions that the Caucus will carry out in a political term. 5.7. An annual performance plan that breaks down annual milestones that must be achieved by the Caucus. 5.8. The plans must have SMART performance measures and budget aligned to the activities of the annual performance plan. 5.9. Performance measures must be aligned to the Gauteng Legislature Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals and Objectives. 5.10. The Caucus will pursue a results-based planning and reporting approach, pursuing outcomes that support the mandates of the Gauteng Legislature, particularly in respect of the transformation agenda. 5.11. Budget aligned to the annual performance plan. 5.12. Indicator protocols for the Caucus performance indicators. The Caucus will also engage in discussions that will culminate in the following: 5.13. Caucus collaboration approaches/stakeholder management. 5.14. Advocacy and networking approaches. 5.15. Lobbying approaches. 5.16. Monitoring and evaluation. 5.17. Information management strategies. 5.18. Approaches to reporting in compliance to national and international instruments, to which South Africa is a signatory. 5.19. Approaches to research and bench-marking. 5.20. Risk management strategies. 7

6. GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS The Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus is governed by the following documents: 6.1. The Constitution, which is a founding document that sets out broad principles that frame the existence of the Caucus and its strategic direction. 6.2. This strategy document, which provides guiding principles pertaining to how the Caucus will conduct its business. 6.3. Terms of reference that provides procedures for the day-to-day operations of the Caucus. NKOSI SIKELEL IAFRICA SIGNATURE: 8 Gauteng Legislature Multi-Party Women s Caucus Strategy Document: June 2016