South Africa

The Joint Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women will discuss women advancement and the empowerment of women in politics and gender equality with their Vietnamese counterparts.
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Law enforcement against gender-based violence is to be strengthened, following the signing of a cooperation agreement between South Africa and the United States of America. US Ambassador to South Africa, Eric Bost and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula signed an agreement set to combat gender-base violence in South Africa.
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The United Nations Security Council has urged countries to enhance female participation in decision-making and to take specific steps to protect women and girls from gender-based violence during conflicts.
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South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said she would not refuse a nomination to head the ruling African National Congress, which is due to choose a new leader next month. The ANC's dominance of South African politics means whoever wins is almost certain to become the next president in 2009.
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Gender activists are planning to march against the ANC Women's League's nomination for Jacob Zuma as the next party president.
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Government should channel finances towards gender equality and women's empowerment programmes, says Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi. The minister emphasised that gender responsive budgets were not separate budgets for women, but are general budgets that are planned, approved, executed, monitored and audited in a gender sensitive way.
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Senior education official Angie Motshekga is the new president of the African National Congress’ Women’s League (ANCWL). Motshekga, who hails from Soweto, was elected president yesterday at the league’s national conference having received 1826 votes.
To read the full article, please visit the Dispatch Online's Website.

The National Gender Machinery launched its 50/50 national campaign, which aims to increase equal representation of women in decision-making positions, on Thursday. The Minister in the Presidency Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, launching the campaign, said: "We are beginning a really big movement of 50-50 representation in decision-making positions."
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Government is considering a law that will force companies and the state to implement 50/50 gender equity, according to the Minister in the Presidency Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. She told reporters on Thursday it was no use to preach but not practise gender equality, adding that introducing a law would ensure that all sectors of society adhere to this policy.
To read the full article, please visit IOL's Website.