PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ILITAHA LABANTU

 

15 May 2002

 

A conference hosted by the women’s organisation Ilitha Labantu, is being held at The Capetonian Hotel, Foreshore, Cape Town, from Saturday, 18 May to Monday, 20 May 2002.. The theme of the Conference is: "THE POST-WCAR PERIOD: A PLATFORM FOR THE WSSD PREPARATIONS".

The Conference is a platform and unique opportunity to review the WCAR Declaration and simultaneously introduce the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to the grassroots women participants. An extensive programme of issues for discussion has been drafted.

This is an important conference as the issues under discussion are topical and relate to the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The Conference will be opened by Baleka Mbethe, Deputy Speaker of Parliament. There will be an address by Minister Thoko Didiza of the Land Affairs and Agriculture Department.

Other prominent speakers will be, inter alia:

  • Chana Majeke: CEO of the Commission on Gender Equality
  • The Department Director-General of the Department of Justice
  • Susan Nkomo: Office on the Status of Women (OSW)
  • Pregs Govender: Senior ANC member of parliament
  • Nzwana Konco: Head of the WSSD Africa Process – Civil Society Secretariat
  • Faith Gasa: Junior IFP member in the KwaZulu legislature.

The issues under discussion at the Conference include:

  • The Post-WCAR Plan of Action
  • Women in the post-WCAR Process
  • The Impact of the Judicial System on Women in South Africa
  • Racism in the Judicial System
  • The Role of the OSW
  • Women and the WSSD
  • The Role of Civil Society in the WSSD Process
  • Nepad: is it good for Women?
  • The Role of the Donor Community in Sustainable Development
  • Obstacles Facing Women in Development
  • Improving the Status and Quality of Life for Women
  • Poverty Eradication, Women and Sustainable Development.

For more information on this statement, please contact the following Persons:

Mandisa Monakali

Yolisa Notshe

Tel: 021-633 2383

Cell: 082 508 1221

E-mail: [email protected]

E-mail: [email protected]