PRESENTATION ON THE 4th WORLD CONGRESS OF RURAL WOMEN TO BE HELD ON 18 - 26 APRIL 2007 AT THE DURBAN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

PRESENTATION ON THE 4th WORLD CONGRESS OF RURAL WOMEN TO BE HELD ON 18 - 26 APRIL 2007 AT THE DURBAN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PREPARATIONS

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OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATIONOUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

Background

Progress Report on Preparations

Cabinet Process

Committees

Participants

Logistics

Publicity and awareness

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

The World Congress of Rural Women is an international gathering of rural women which occurs at four year intervals.

Congress has been hosted previously by Australia in 1994, the USA in 1998 and Spain in 2002.

The hosting of the 4th World Congress of Rural Women by Africa was informed by the resolutions of the 2002 Congress held in Spain, when Ms Graca Machel received a ceremonial bowl, marking acceptance for South Africa to host the 4th World Congress on behalf of Africa.

The aim of the congress is to discuss universal and wide-ranging issues confronting rural women today and to share concrete experiences of success in adressing these world wide.

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BACKGROUND cont…….BACKGROUND cont…….

These include: Globalization Sustainable development Gender equality Food security The impact of new technologies on rural women Empowerment and public policies supporting rural

women

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BACKGROUND cont……..BACKGROUND cont……..

Synergies with elements of the Millennium Declaration on Human Rights and the WSSD outcomes of pursuing the rights of women, particularly focusing on the right to development of rural women.  

The congress will therefore afford the continent to reflect on the progress made so far in regard to the MDGs of the World Food Summit , which committed all the leaders to reduce poverty by half in 2015. 

The department will also use the outcomes of this congress to elevate plight of rural women and will consider policy recommendations of the congress to positively impact on the economic situations of rural women.

 

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DATE , VENUE AND THEMEDATE , VENUE AND THEME

The Congress will take place from 23-26 April 2007 at the Durban International Convention Centre and will be hosted by the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs.

It will be preceded by the Africa Preparatory Conference from 19-22 April 2007.

The Congress will run under the theme:

UNITED IN OUR DIVERSITY: WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS TOTAL EMANCIPATION OF RURAL WOMEN FROM POVERTY AND HUNGER

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PARTICIPANTSPARTICIPANTS

Approximately 2000 local and international delegates are expected to participate in the congress.

900 participants will be from South Africa

600 from the African region

500 from other parts of the world.

Delegates will be drawn from rural women themselves, government, civil society, international and intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and community based organizations.

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Preparations for the CongressPreparations for the Congress

The preparations for the Congress are underway and various Committees have been established.

•Inter Ministerial Committee

•NPC

•Steering Committee

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Inter Ministerial Committee

NPC

Steering Committee

Security and Accreditation

Publicity/Media

Logistics

Programme/Substance

Budget and Fundraising

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INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE

At Cabinet level an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been established to ensure successful hosting of the Congress.

Convened and chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.

The composition of the IMC includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Social Development, Finance, Public Service and Administration, South African Police Service , Health ,Home Affairs and the Presidency.

For overall coordination of all activities related to preparations for the Congress a Steering Committee has been formed, which consists of DOAgriculture, DLandAffairs, DForeignAffairs and DSocial Development.

The Steering Committee has developed a draft programme and

concept note for the Congress.

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Role of the IMC

The IMC is responsible for providing overall political leadership and direction to ensure that the congress is a success and is inclusive at national, regional and continental level.

Ensure that resolutions taken during the Congress form part of the South African Programme of Action on rural women.

Monitor the implementation of the congress resolutions

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Departmental level

A National Preparatory Committee (NPC) has been established to support and report directly to the IMC. The composition of this Committee is mainly drawn from other government departments.

This committee is co-chaired by the DDGs of Agriculture and Land Affairs and oversees the work of the task teams that have already been formed.

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Steering Commitee

For overall coordination of all activities related to preparations for the Congress an Interdepartmental Steering Committee consisting of DoA, DLA,DSD,DFA, DHA

The Steering Committee consists of task teams such as

• Logistics

• Communications

• Substance

• Substance Committee has developed a draft programme and concept note for the Congress.

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Theme 1:Globalisation and eradicating impoverishment

MDG-halving poverty by 2015

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);

Policy coherence from World Summit for Sustainable Dvelopment to World Congress of Rural Women;

Corporate Accountability;

Gender budget initiative;

Literacy and education for sustainability;

Equitable access to new technology and media and Increase access to credit

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Theme 2: Peace and stabilityTheme 2: Peace and stability

Human Rights and Women’s Human Rights; Peace education; Non-violent conflict resolution; Violence against women and children; Refugees/trafficking

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Theme 3: Governance for rural development at all levelsTheme 3: Governance for rural development at all levels

Gender balance by 2014; Engendering rural development; Participation of marginalized groups; Gender audit/global gender monitoring; Women’s role in Environmental and rural governance Agriculture support programs; Barriers to participation-literacy, poverty, economic

empowerment etc

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Theme 4: Environmental security and Access and control of resourcesTheme 4: Environmental security and Access and control of resources

Women’s property and land rights; Climate Change; Security of tenure; Waste and toxic substances; Land Restitutions; Maputo declaration; Impact of natural disasters; Biological diversity; Privatisation of natural resources

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Theme 5: health and well beingTheme 5: health and well being

Sexual and Reproductive Rights and health; HIV/AIDS & other related diseases; Access to health Care and women’s health; Maternal and Chi ld Mortality; Water and sanitation; Unsafe employment

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CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATIONCIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION

As part of the South African preparatory processes, rural women have been mobilized through Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD).

WARD is actively involved in identifying civil society participants.

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Participation of the African ContinentParticipation of the African Continent

South Africa is hosting the Congress on behalf of the African Continent

An invitation has been sent to the African Union (AU) to play a leading role in organizing participation of African countries during the African Pre conference consultation of Rural Women that will be held from 19 to 21 April 2007 at the International Convention Centre in Durban.

Furthermore, the role of the AU during the pre conference will be to:

• Make inputs on the concept note;

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Make inputs on the participants, particularly civil society formations dealing with rural development in Africa; and

Identify countries and speakers per region, to provide responses of African women to the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP).

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Participants from the rest of the WorldParticipants from the rest of the World

Participants from the other parts of the World will be drawn from government, civil society as well as international organizations.

An invitation Note Verbale has also been sent out to All Missions abroad to invite various governments to participate at the Congress.

The invitations have been sent through the Department of Foreign Affairs.

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Logistical ArrangementsLogistical Arrangements

Venue for Congress has been secured and accommodation has been secured at various hotels

Website for congress has been developed and it consists of:

Registration form, brochures, general information and background documents for

the congress The congress website can be accessed through

www.4thworldcongress.co.za Calls for papers have also been made and a deadline

for submission has been set.

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Logistical Arrangements cont……Logistical Arrangements cont……

Flyers have been developed for members of the public who do not have access to the internet

A draft budget for the Congress has been put together and a budget shortfall has been identified in terms of the requirements for the Congress

Various options on how to cater for the shortfall have been identified.

By 23 February 2007 the key Departments which have been identified to assist with the preparations for the Congress will receive an itemised action plan for the services they will be requested to perform.

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Logistical Arrangements cont……Logistical Arrangements cont……

These Departments will also have to make personnel available to assist in the preparations and to perform various functions.

Interns within the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs have been identified to perform various functions during the Congress.

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Publicity and awarenessPublicity and awareness

A communication strategy has been developed with the various activities to be undertaken.

Committees to embark on an interdepartmental road shows in order to reinforce the key messages of the congress and to raise awareness about the congress.

This engagement will also be extended through to: • the Presidency, through the clusters, • the Commission for Gender Equality, • the Office on the Status of Women in the Presidency

which works closely with the gender desks in line ministries,

• Civil society• CSW

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• EU, • AU, • SADC

Duration of the road show is February 15th – March 30th 2007.

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BudgetBudget

Consultation Provincial Stakeholder Consultation= R4,500 000.00 National Stakeholder Consultation = R388 800.00 Total = R4 888 800.00

Africa-pre consultation Conference facilities = R1 709 820.00 Accommodation and shuttle = R2 077 400.00 Road transport = R3 202 000.00 Flights = R2 064 930.00 Consultation with AU and SADC = R 900 000.00 Security = R 300 000.00 Protocol = R 135 000.00 Health Services = R 80 000.00 Unforeseen Circumstances = R 500 000

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Budget continues…..Budget continues…..

TOTAL AFRICA CONSULTATION =R22 210 950.00

MAIN CONFERENCE Conference facilities = R3 733 435.00 Accommodation = R2 272 400.00 Road transport = R 236 000.00 Flights = R2 097 915.00 Security = R 425 000.00 Protocol = R 55 000.00 Health Services = R 80 000.00 Unforeseen Circumstances = R 500 000.00 Others = R 283 655.00

Total for Main Conference = R9 683 405.00

Grand total = R 31 894 355.00