Gender Issues

Domestic Violence Act  (No.116 of 1998)  Women's charter for effective equality

Vision: Empowerment of women, as well as involvement of men in the process of achieving Gender Equality   Mission Statement The Gender Focal point in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health will 'Strive for Empowerment of Women through reviewing and amending Gender Discriminating Policies and Practices thus ensuring equal access for opportunities and resources that will enhance the quality of life of both genders and all people in the Province"   Values : Gender Focal point's approval and mode of operation Respect and Uphold the rights of all individuals Principles of Justice, Equality, Compassion, Equity and Quality   Goals and Objectives Establish and promote a culture of Gender Equality in the Department of Health. To ensure that all kinds of behaviors that are discriminatory in terms of gender are eliminated. Ensure transformation of Health personnel for effective working relations and respect of human rights for both women and men. Ensure that Gender issues are routinely considered in the strategic planning. Ensure that each Project Team and all Institutions reflect gender consideration in their yearly Key Result Area's. Review Departmental Policy and planning in line with the National Gender Policy Framework. Monitor and evaluate the Department's Progress Programmes to ensure that they reflect Gender Consideration. Establish mechanisms to link up with the Civil Society.

What are gender issues?

Gender issues are revealed when the relationships between women and men, their roles, privileges, status and positions, are identified and analysed. These issues arise where inequalities and inequities are shown to exist between people purely on the basis of their being female or male.

 

What about gender?

Gender refers to the social roles allocated respectively to women and men in particular societies and at particular times. Such roles and the differences between them are conditioned by a variety of political, economic, ideological and cultural factors, and are characterised in most societies by unequal power relations. Gender is distinguished from sex, which is biological determined.

What then is gender equality? And how does it differ from gender equity?

Gender refers to a situation where women and men have equal conditions for realizing their full human rights and potential, and are able to contribute equally to national political, economic, social and cultural development, and to benefit equally from the results.

Gender Equality entails that the underlying causes of discrimination are systematically identified and removed in order to give women and men equal opportunities. Basically gender Equality means equality between women and men, including:
· Equal employment
· Equal opportunities
· Equal access to resources and rewards
· Equal power to influence decisions that are made within our society.

Equality does not mean that men and women are the same, but that opportunities and chances in life will not depend on their sexual orientation.

Gender Equity on the other hand refers to the fair and just distribution of all means of opportunities and resources between women and men.