Pretoria - Government is in the process of finalising consultations on women empowerment and gender equality policy in preparation for the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill.
The national policy proposes guidelines for promoting women empowerment and gender equality.
Presenting her department's Budget Vote today, Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, told Parliament: "Consistent with the directive of the President in his State of the Nation Address, we intend to table the policy and the draft bill before Cabinet this year."
The draft Bill is aimed at enforcing compliance in both government and the private sector.
Xingwana reported that to date, 4 184 girls were participating in phase 1 of the Techo-Girl Programme. A total of 1 829 girls will be part of the June school holidays intake from both the public and private sector.
The Techo-Girl Programme is a partnership between the department, the Department of Basic Education, Uweso and UNICEF. It encourages girl children to pursue studies in science, maths, engineering and technology fields through job shadowing and career guidance. About 15 departments are participating in the programme.
On the issue of violence against women and children, Xingwana reiterated the need for collective efforts to ensure that women and children can walk the streets without fear of being raped, assaulted or killed.
She commended Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa's efforts to strengthen and resource the re-established Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units at police stations, noting that this will expedite responses to these crimes.
"The National Prosecuting Authority has increased Thuthuzela Centres to over 40 around the country to provide an integrated response, care and support to the victims of violent sexual crimes.
"We also commend the Minister of Health [Dr Aaron Motsoaledi] for recruiting and training forensic technicians to staff a fourth forensic laboratory... this will go a long way in processing vital evidence," Xingwana said.
She said the department was engaging with the Department of Justice and advocating for the justice system to impose the heaviest possible sentences and no bail for perpetrators of violent crimes against women and children, including those with disabilities.
"This would send a clear message that our society will not tolerate people who commit these atrocities. We need to take collective action as government and communities to protect the most vulnerable in our society."
Cabinet recently approved the establishment of the National Council against Gender-based Violence, to be led by the Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
"This is because gender-based violence requires leadership at the highest level," Xingwana said, commending the ground work done so far by the interim council.
The council's first deliverable, among other things, will be to review, facilitate and monitor the implementation of the 365 Days National Action Plan on No Violence against Women and Children.
