WOMEN’S MONTH 2020 THEME€¦ · 26/07/2020 · Black women suffered triple oppression (race,...
Transcript of WOMEN’S MONTH 2020 THEME€¦ · 26/07/2020 · Black women suffered triple oppression (race,...
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Private Bag X931, Pretoria, 0001, 36 Hamilton Street, Arcadia, Pretoria Tel.: 012 359 0071/2, Fax: 012 323 5954
VERSION 5: 26 JULY 2020
COMMUNICATION PLAN: (DRAFT VERSION 5)
WOMEN’S MONTH 2020
THEME:
Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future
Contact Person:
Shalen Gajadhar (Mr)
Director: Communications
Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
012 359 0300
060 979 4235
E-mail: [email protected]
NOTE: This is a working document and is intended for inputs, collaboration and finding synergies.
Inputs must ONLY be made via track changes and returned for consideration and inclusion.
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1. BACKGROUND
Every year, on 9 August, South Africa commemorates the 1956 Women’s March when
over 20 000 women from all backgrounds and cultures marched to the Union Buildings
in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws. The Pass Laws sought to control the
movement of women, subjugating women to government controls which aimed to
reduce women to property of the state. The historical 1956 march by brave South
African women, contributed greatly to the emancipation of women and an overall
equality of South African citizens.
In this march, the women of South Africa sent a public message that they would not
be intimidated and silenced by unjust laws. The leaders of the march carried petitions
and the women sang a freedom song: ‘Wathint` abafazi, wathint' imbokodo' (You
Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock). This slogan has come to represent the courage
and strength of South African women.
This march has been celebrated since 1995 as National Women’s Day to recognise
the important role political activism by women played during the struggle for liberation
against colonisation and apartheid.
2020 marks 66 years since the Founding Conference of the Federation of South
African Women which adopted the 1954 Women’s Charter. The 1954 Women’s
Charter called for a single society that recognises that “women do not form a society
separate from the men” and therefore “shares in the problems and anxieties of our
men, and joins hands with them to remove social evils and obstacles to progress”. The
Women’s Charter was adopted a year before the historic Freedom Charter of 1955. In
1994 under the Women’s National Coalition, the Women’s Charter for Effective
Equality was adopted.
Both the 1954- and 1994- Women’s Charters give expression to the common
experiences, visions and aspirations of South African women, providing the platform
for women to voice out their call for respect and recognition of their human dignity,
rights and change in their status and material conditions.
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2. BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Black women suffered triple oppression (race, gender, class / culture), especially those
married under customary law, who were regarded as minors by the Black
Administration Act 1927 and placed under the tutelage of their husbands. The
aspirations of women for self-determination and equality were espoused in the
Women’s Charter of 1954.
South Africa participated in the 4th World Conference of Women in 1995, and signed
the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in the same year. In line with resolution
E/RES/2013/18 of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), South Africa is
committed to undertake a comprehensive national-level review of the progress made
and challenges encountered in implementing the Platform for Action for the
achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women. It is envisaged that this
national-level review will contribute in understanding and engagement of how gender
equality and the empowerment of women can be strengthened in a Post-2015
Development Agenda/UN Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of
Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, is an international human
rights instrument established by the African Union that went into The Maputo Protocol,
formulated with help from the International Planned Parenthood Federation, explicitly
calls for all methods of contraception, including abortifacient ones such as the Pill, to
be provided by governments. It not only calls for allowing the killing of unborn children
conceived through rape and incest, but for the mental health of the mother.
Culture War: The Maputo Protocol is About the Eradication of Traditional African
Family Cultures. In contrast to its passing mention of FGM, the Maputo Protocol is full
of radical feminist language about the complete transformation of African cultures into
a Western, Marxist-style genderless utopia. The Maputo Protocol is an African
blueprint for continent-wide feminist social transformation that, like all leftist
transformations, will destroy families, lessen community, uproot tradition, and enhance
the power of ruling governmental elites.
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“States Parties shall adopt and implement appropriate measures to ensure the
protection of every woman’s right to respect for her dignity and protection of women
from all forms of violence, particularly sexual and verbal violence.”
This women’s month in recognising our learning from the past and present African
development efforts and challenges and forging an African-centred approach to
transformation which includes lessons from post-independence state and nation-
building, industrialization and modernization efforts, the fight against disease,
ignorance and poverty; and the push for integration, as captured in the OAU Charter,
the Monrovia Declaration, the Lagos Plan of Action, the Abuja Treaty, the AU
Constitutive Act and, NEPAD.
The Pan African women’s day would one more support the “People-centred
development, gender equality and youth empowerment, which place the African
people at the centre of all continental efforts, to ensure their participation in the
transformation of the continent, and to build caring and inclusive societies. No society
can reach its full potential, unless it empowers women and youth and removes all
obstacles to women’s full participation in all areas of human endeavours. Africa must
provide an enabling environment for its women, children and young people to flourish
and reach their full potential.”
3. WOMEN’S MONTH
Women’s month commemoration in 2020 is contextualized within the global marking
of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action, particularly
in the Global Generation Equality Campaign coordinated by UN Women. The intention
is to mobilise governments and civil societies across the world to keep to the promises
made at the 4th World Conference for Women and to the commitments adopted in the
BPfA.
The Campaign focuses on bringing together the next generations that are seizing the
moment to re-imagine economies, societies and political systems so that they can
uphold human rights and achieve gender equality while leaving no one behind.
Towards that goal, the Campaign seeks to draw on this momentum and impetus being
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created by the next generations of women rights activists, gender equality advocates
and visionaries in tandem with that of the women activists, visionaries and advocates
instrumental in creating the BPfA 25 years ago. Collectively these change makers of
all ages and genders can tackle the unfinished business of empowering women. Hence
the Campaign is a multi-generation campaign themed: Generation Equality:
Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future.
The main focus of the Generation Equality campaign is (a) demand for equal pay; (b)
equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work; (c) an end to sexual harassment and
all form of violence against women and girls; (d) responsive health care services to the
needs of women and girls; and (e) equal participation of women in political life and
decision-making in all areas of life.
The Generation Equality Campaign will be institutionalized through the establishment
of the Generation Equality Forum which will serve as an opportunity to galvanize action
towards gender equality. It is envisaged that it will gather advocates from around the
globe to call for action and accountability for the full realization of the gender equality
agenda. Towards this end, there will be Action Coalitions championed by certain Heads
of States. Action Coalitions are innovation partnerships among civil society, Member
States and business as well as other stakeholders that share common goals to
accelerate action on critical thematic areas of concern. Each Action Coalition will
develop a set of concrete and transformative actions that Coalition members will be
expected to take up for the period 2020-2025. This is towards achieving immediate
and irreversible progress for gender equality.
One of the fundamental challenges that persist in the country is that of patriarchal and
gender stereotyped thinking. This results in misogyny, gender-based violence and
other forms of discrimination. Women and girls are subjected to high levels of rape,
sexual offences, femicide, domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Patriarchal
violence that drives the systematic abuse and oppression of women as a result of male
supremacy, societal norms, cultural beliefs and value systems with regard to gender
roles remains a significant policy and implementation conundrum. While GBV is a
critical challenge facing the country’s women and girls, challenges are not only limited
to GBV. Women face objectification, harassment, the burden of gendered roles and
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responsibilities, subjugation through culture and religion, unequal access to the labour
market, persistence of gender pay gaps, societal pressures to commit to marriage,
childbearing, child care, the responsibility of caring for elders, early and forced
marriage as well as gendered division of labour and unpaid care and household work,
etc.
Women with disabilities face the same pressures but with the added discrimination
and indignity of being defined through their disability.
Sanitary dignity is inequitable in the country, with poor women and girls lacking some
of the key necessities for sanitary dignity such as affordable sanitary products;
available, safe and hygienic water supply; private, safe and hygienic sex-segregated
sanitation; hygienic hand washing facilities and soap (hygiene). The absence of
sanitary dignity and/or menstrual health and hygiene is particularly challenging for
indigent persons in the rural areas and informal settlements of the country especially
those without water and sanitation, resulting in numerous incidental (and perhaps
unintended) consequences relating to their empowerment, education, health,
employment and social activities, to name a few.
Globally girls and women are frequently denied education and training opportunities
by virtue of being female. Many of those who are educated and trained have done so
only to fulfil traditional and stereotypical roles and responsibilities which perpetuate
their oppression. This is also perpetuated by the lack of employment opportunities for
women and the youth.
While South Africa may be among the first countries in the world to introduce LGBT
rights into its constitution, the LGBTQIA+ sector is subjected to inhumane and violent
crimes (including hate crimes) as a result of their sexual orientation.
Young women also face obstacles in securing employment, as they are more prone
to be subjected to subordinate positions, or lower salaries than male counterparts.
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Young women with disabilities face compounded levels of discrimination. Women with
disabilities desire to have equal opportunities and also contribute to the economy of
the country.
Teenage pregnancy and the increase in cases of HIV is of concern to government.
Part of the Women’s Month Campaign, must be to raise awareness to these areas
(Beijing Platform of Action – Women and Health).
Unpaid Care Work: Women are expected to care for children, and elder persons. This
is a gender bias and results in many women being unable to seek work due to the
burden of responsibility placed on them to carry out care work. This must be exposed,
with care work needing to be valued in society.
Domesticating the 12 areas of the Beijing Platform for Action is an important aspect of
ensuring gender equality while SA meets its international obligations.
The other important context to be cognizant of in which the August month 2020
commemorations will occur is in the present crisis of COVID-19 and the responses to
it – the lockdown and the risk adjusted strategies. Research shows that pandemics
have a disproportionate impact on women and girls. This is clearly evident already in
the COVID-19 pandemic where women and girls are being negatively impacted by the
pandemic and the responses put in place.
Women and children have been affected through the lockdown by increased levels of
GBVF. The department is aware that the burden of domestic work is gendered, so
while society is fixated on containing the spread of the virus, there is also the mental
strain that parents, caregivers, and in the main, mothers are experiencing with fears
attached to children, the elderly, and loved ones contracting the virus, the juggling of
work, domestic chores, as well as care for children and the elderly, while also being
concerned about businesses grinding to a halt, the risk of no work, no pay strategies
being put in place to mitigate against slowdown in sales, etc.
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A recent report by the United Nations Development Programme revealed that women
dedicated 74% of their time to work and unpaid care work, versus 26% of time
dedicated by men. During South Africa’s State of Disaster, this disproportionate
burden placed on women will be further strained given the unprecedented steps being
taken to curb the spread of COVID-19. The department wishes to add its support to
the Commission on Gender Equality’s call to prioritise women, children, the elderly
and persons with disabilities when provisioning for supply of water and hygiene kits to
curb the spread of the virus.
‘Violence against women’ means all acts perpetrated against women which cause or
could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the
threat to take such acts; or to undertake the imposition of arbitrary restrictions on or
deprivation of fundamental freedoms in private or public life in peace time and during
situations of armed conflicts or of war.”
The empowerment of women in South Africa is about dealing with the legacy of
apartheid and the transformation of society, particularly the transformation of power
relations between women, men, institutions and laws. It is also about addressing
gender oppression, patriarchy, sexism, racism, ageism, and structural oppression, and
creating a conducive environment which enables women to take control of their lives.
4. 2020 WOMEN’S MONTH STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• To stimulate dialogue on dismantling patriarchy, unpacking concept of manhood,
masculinity and toxic masculinities and on “what is a real man?”
• To initiate campaign on Behaviour Change towards prevention of violence against
women and addressing discrimination and patriarchal practices.
• End gender discrimination and advance the rights of women and girls in the
political, economic, social and cultural spheres of life.
• Mobilise women and strengthen their organized formations towards the
development of sustainable Action Coalitions (Generation Equality).
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• Develop national consensus around a programme of gender policy priorities and
programming to advance the gender agenda in the period 2020-2025 and towards
the achievement of gender equality in South Africa by 2030
• Give impetus to the accelerated implementation of programmes for women,
youth and persons with disabilities to address national priorities including the
eradication of gender-based violence, expanding youth employment and ensuring
reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
Currently, South African women are facing the dual pandemic of COVID-19 and GBVF
and this means the new normal expecting us all work toward the building a more just
and equal society, where we respect women and children’s rights and take
responsibility for their safety.
Furthermore, we are working to secure gender equality and protect women’s human
rights in our policies and programmes, but still high levels of GBVF co-exists with
progressive policies.
This women’s month would start to integrate the work around the district model
whereby all provinces and district municipalities will ensure that we all:
(i) Close the gaps between international standards and national laws, policies and
practices, this should be done in line with country laws.
The harmonization of laws with sole understanding on impunity for violence
against women and children, meaning that the identified laws must be reviewed
and tabled to Parliament with sense of urgency, many a times law making
process is long with red tape.
(ii) Bring national laws, policies and practices into compliance with international
commitments, this would find expression in generation equality roadmap.
(iii) Follow-up on and implement the recommendations that emanated from periodic
reviews of their reports and commitments, but also recent court cases and
happenings in South Africa. This is important since support during and
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immediately after ordeal but thereafter many victims are left to pick up pieces of
their lives on their own.
(iv) Remove all laws that discriminate against women, review and revise all
government policies and practices to ensure that they do not discriminate against
women and to make sure the provisions of multiple legal systems, where they
exist, comply with international human rights standards, including the principle of
non-discrimination.
(v) Ensure that legislation is in place that adequately addresses all forms of violence
against women, since if not able to find assistance when required.
(vi) Act with due diligence to prevent violence against women, to investigate such
violence, to prosecute and punish perpetrators, and to provide access to redress
for victims.
(vii) Take positive measures to address structural causes of violence against women
and to strengthen prevention efforts that address discriminatory practices and
social norms. Societal norms and cultures does plays a major role in gender
based violence situation.
(viii) Education and training of SAPS staff at police station who responsible for
evidence collection, since police are trained to collective evidence at crime scene
and also looking for any other information that will lead to alleged accessed
person which mean they also have to listen to person who probably traumatised
and fearful to report details therefore the police station needs to be safe
environment with staff who sensitive and caring, therefor the gender issues also
contribute towards process.
(ix) To increase access for survivors of victims support programmes, this meant to
be accessible with confidential staff to protect victims and next of kin.
(x) Building a strong multi-sectorial response on district based level model dealing
with issues of culture, norms and stereotypes in society.
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(xi) Increase resource allocation to implementing agencies and improve services to
victims support programmes, the development of minimum norms and standards
with a costing model to find required recourse and attraction of requisite skills for
intervention and treatment models.
(xii) Increasing data collection and tracking and tracking of perpetrators and victims,
this should influence human behaviour modification and intervention
approaches.
(xiii) Monitoring, measure the quality of services to survivors of violence, using the
GBVF Monitoring & Evaluation framework.
(xiv) Monitoring the CEDAW conventions and other international conventions,
including hosting mock trail session within the periodical sessions this is an
opportunity to measure policy implementation and impact thereof.
(xv) Massive media responses and demonstrations serving as deterrent for crimes
and social justice within the confines of the law. The inclusion of men as partners
and working with rehabilitated offenders must become more prominent since this
would assist with empowerment of men and women as a whole.
(xvi) The impact of GBVF on victims and their families members, needs to include the
mental health as an illness which needs to become a health priority in society,
amongst other the personality disorder illness needs professional treatment and
support.
(xvii) LGBTQIA+ groups living in fear and the so called “corrective rape” and murders
remain matter for concern including the stigma and discrimination in country.
(xviii) Family therapy group sessions needs to prioritise since a lot of work around
socialisation and behaviour change important. Continued partner violence and
femicide does place the family responsibility at centre of the crisis, since many
victim’s family members seems to has have known the perpetrators.
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(xix) Men as partners programmes needs government support since the peer
pressure could influence the process for more sustainable results. Harmful
traditional practices need to openly discussed and discontinued to increase
mutual respects amongst men and women.
(xx) Economic costs on violence against women, this is useful for understanding the
severity of the problem as it shows its economic impact on business. Furthermore
COVID-19 pandemic contributes to difficult situations which is yet to be
measured therefore we need to ascertain these costs to better understand its
impact.
5. WOMEN’S MONTH 2020 THEME
Women’s Month will focus on a collective of change makers of all ages and genders
to tackle the unfinished business of empowering women through a multi-generational
campaign, under the theme: Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an
equal future. The Generation Equality Campaign links South Africa’s Women Month
Campaign to the global celebration of 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action
and aligns with UN Women global campaign for gender equality.
Women’s Month in South Africa provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the
generations of women whose struggles laid the foundations for the progress made in
empowering women and achieving gender equality to date. In line with gender equality
goals, the emphasis should be on elevating the voices of ordinary women across
sectors of society under the banner of “What Women Want”. This should in turn
provide further impetus to strategic interventions which will ensure the radical
transformation of gender relations and the political, social and economic
empowerment of women, including young women and those with disabilities.
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6. COMMUNICATION OBJECTIVES OF THE 2019 WOMEN’S MONTH
PROGRAMME
• To advance the response against gender discrimination, and patriarchal practices
affecting women and girls in all spheres of life.
• To communicate on the role of Action Coalitions, a collective of change makers of
all ages and genders to tackle the unfinished business of empowering women; that
can advance Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality under the theme:
Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future
• To elevate the voices of ordinary women towards the development of a common
platform of gender policy priorities and programming in the period 2020-2025 and
towards the achievement of gender equality in South Africa by 2030
• To highlight programmes to advance the rights of women, including young
women and women with disabilities to address national priorities including the
eradication of gender-based violence and femicide and economic justice and
rights.
• To lobby through the media for women’s inclusion in the economy and address all
forms of inequality including unpaid care work, equal pay for work of equal value
as well as ownership and participation across economic sectors.
• To highlight how women are disproportionately affected during COVID-19
further exacerbating gender inequalities that existed before the pandemic and
interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic.
• To constantly communicate on the Call to Action, to generate buy-in and citizen-
wide activism.
• To educate the public on government services and programmes towards the
empowerment of women and how to access these.
• To inspire South Africans with stories of women having overcome hurdles to
achieve success and greatness in different fields/areas/sectors.
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7. COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES FOCUS
Communications activities for the month of August must reflect on the long history of
struggle women, in particular young women, and women with disabilities have gone
through to secure their emancipation. This campaign must show the long history of
women’s struggles against South Africa’s fight to end apartheid, and must also reflect
on persisting challenges that women must overcome every day (Harassment, Gender
Based Violence, unequal pay for equal work, customs, cultures and religious practices
that demote the role of women etc.).
A government-wide campaign with activities arranged by both government and civil
society focusing on the rights of women must be reflected through our media
platforms, focusing on the greater goal of increased awareness to our achievements,
and challenges that remain stubborn in the face of increased activism.
Campaigns, programmes and activities during Women’s Month must link with:
• Gender-Based Violence
• Economic justice and rights
• Bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
• Feminist action for climate justice
• Technology and innovation for gender equality
• Feminist movements and leadership
Another important area brought into focus by recent events is COVID-19 and its
disproportionate effects on women.
Constant messaging by departments during Women’s Month must be done for the
purpose of advocacy (to communicate on challenges women still face), applause (to
pause and celebrate the successes of government in empowering women. To also
celebrate the successes of women in all fields from sport, to film, from art to adventure
and everything in-between), and for awareness (to communicate the programmes,
projects and support systems that are available to all women, young women and
women with disabilities.
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Communications activities must carry multiple voices with similar messages. We need
wide discussions by different sectors, both government, civil society, big business,
religious and cultural organisations, CSOs, Organisations working in the disability
space etc.
We need multi-language approach, with multi content. Take advantage of online and
low-tech routes to share messages.
Our Communications approach must BOTH include the voices and messages directly
from the disability sector, as well as ensuring our messaging is made accessible
persons with disabilities, through both using technology and reaching out to networks.
Our communications reach as the department hinges on organisations reaching out
to us to get information, for us to share content and raise awareness to events,
campaigns and messages you are putting out during the month.
Local reach is critical! Information must trickle down to District level so that messages
are relayed via Executive and Local Mayors, and via the District Champion
Programme.
8. CALL TO ACTION / CAMPAIGN Be a part of the generation that ends gender inequality.
To ensure constant media interest as well as mass mobilisation during the month,
Women’s Month activities should include a call to action to be elaborated within each
thematic areas. This will allow media to sustain conversations, provide content for
interviews as well as media statements, weekly messaging etc.
The Call to Action will be linked to the theme: Generation Equality: Realizing women’s
rights for an equal future.
The launch event will announce the national theme for Women Month 2020 as well as
unpack sub-themes for the month to guide national conversations, and programmes
targeted at ending inequality and driving women empowerment initiatives.
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The event will serve as a call to action to the nation to tackle patriarchy, supported by
solution-orientated programmes. The Call to Action impact statement is: Be a part
of the generation that ends gender inequality.
The commitment to this call to action will be through showcasing practical programmes
and opportunities that empowers women and girls. The goal of this campaign is to
dismantle patriarchy in all its forms as an underlying cause of many of the injustices
women face on a daily basis.
The overarching hashtag: #IAmGenerationEquality will be used to show support for
the call to action campaign. The hashtag #WhatWomenWant is linked to Action
Coalitions, i.e. formations that are ensuring women have agency. The generic hashtag
#WomensMonth2020 will trend on Twitter due to mass engagement.
In addition, conversations must centre on what behaviours are appropriate and how
do we change behaviours towards prevention of GBVF and other forms of abuse and
discriminatory practices and attitudes.
The Media Launch must signal to the country that the prioritisation of programmes that
seek to end inequality and empower women is paramount. Minister will call for
government, business sector and citizens to address inequality in all sectors and in all
spaces. These programmes must be sustainable and seek to make a real impact in
the lives of women.
Due to prevalence in the media space and in wider society, the Women’s Month media
launch will address critical issues facing women today, including Gender-Based
Violence, Economic Justice and COVID-19 and its disproportionate effect on women.
This is particularly important as the nation is constantly looking to government to
provide updates on what is being done to respond to this.
A campaign will be developed that encourages citizen participation and dialogue, as
well as media exploration of the theme, thereby sustaining conversations outside of
activities for the month.
The emphasis as per the theme should be on Generation-to-Generation to
commemorate and to pay tribute to previous generations of women who have
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sacrificed so much to ensure women’s rights are realised. The theme also expresses
the passing of the baton so that future generations can continue the struggle for
gender equality and empowerment of women. This serves to mobilise young women
formations to build on the sacrifices of generations of women who have fought for
gender equality.
The social media campaign will focus on a collective of change makers of all ages and
genders to tackle the unfinished business of empowering women through a multi-
generational campaign, under the theme “Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s
Rights for an Equal Future” during COVID- 19 and beyond.
The emphasis should be on elevating the voices of women across sectors of society
under the banner of “What Women Want”. This should in turn provide further impetus
to strategic interventions which will ensure the radical transformation of gender
relations and the political, social and economic empowerment of women, including
young women and women with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ Community etc.
The Call-To-Action shall be a powerful line of engagement by the Minister as well as
the President to dismantle patriarchy in all its forms as an underlying cause of many
of the injustices women face on a daily basis.
The communications approach should include bold statements that resonate with the
public and provide food for thought, that require pause for reflection, and statements
that force the media to unpack their meaning during Women’s Month.
During Women’s Month, statements, speeches, media engagements and responses
should unpack terms like toxic masculinity and positive approaches to masculinity,
patriarchy and misogyny, as well as patriarchal systems that maintain hetero-
normative stereotypes and sustain inequalities for personal benefit.
9. COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT 2020 Women’s Month takes place at a time when the whole country is reeling from the
effects of COVID-19. The virus has not only taken tens of thousands of lives globally,
and thousands of lives in South Africa, but has also slowed the economy and resulted
in widespread job losses. No doubt women are adversely affected by the high rates of
infection, as well as death toll, and in addition women have been unable to work to
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support families and feed children. Over 1 million domestic workers (mainly women)
have not been able to work for months, resulting in widespread hunger and
desperation. This has had a devastating impact on the psyche of South African
women. Women who remain in lower positions, entry level positions due to entry
barriers and juniorisation of workspaces, are affected by widespread job cuts, salary
cuts, and suspension of benefits. Now, more than ever, Communications opportunities
exist in showcasing programmes and funding focussed on empowering women.
Issues of women are cross-cutting, and so it is not only service-delivery departments
that run programmes that benefit women.
Women remain vulnerable as frontline workers in the bid to stop the spread of COVID-
19. Nurses, doctors, Health Officials involved in testing, as well as those offering care
continue to face the risk of infection.
As the economy struggles to recover from the pandemic, job losses across the country
affect women, who remain at the lower end of organisational hierarchies. Many
domestic workers will lose their jobs due to loss of income affecting higher LSM
homes.
Cuts in revenue collection will result in cuts in programme spending, and we must
ensure that these cuts are not made in programmes that benefit women.
This must also apply to GBV where there has been a number of cases come to light,
partly due to women being subjected to lockdown conditions with their abusers.
Women, not only face the threat of femicide and physical abuse, but daily emotional
and economic abuse at the hands of their partners and family members.
Women sit in boardrooms and summit mountains! Women are primary care givers,
work two jobs, are single parents (in the main), and are amongst the poorest in South
Africa (the face of poverty being that of a black woman). As South Africa continues to
focus on COVID-19 Women’s Month is the opportunity to locate the voices of women
within the country’s united struggle to get back on its feet.
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10. MEDIA LAUNCH EVENT – LAUNCH OF WOMENS MONTH
The launch of Women’s Month will take place on 30 July 2020, from 10:00-12:00.
The event will take the format of a Media Launch.
The media launch will follow the format of virtual media briefings, hosted at GCIS with
media being able to watch via online platforms, as well as the live briefing being carried
by national broadcasters. GCIS Media Room has been booked. With Room 159 at the
Union Buildings being booked as Plan B.
Communications will support in engaging the media and stakeholders on the launch
event, as well as Women’s Month, raising awareness, drafting statement, speaking
notes for principals, social media artwork, key messages, follow up interviews, as well
as event support.
Communications across government and civil society can prepare for the launch by
preparing sector specific statements for Women’s Month as well as Key Messages
linked to the pillars of the Generation Equality Campaign.
Journalists will be invited to witness a media briefing by Principals with questions.
Questions will also be received via WhatsApp from Journalists via Networks
established at GCIS as well as the department’s own media database.
The event will unpack the theme for Women’s Month; with civil society invited to
participate through social media.
Themes under Generation Equality that will be explored: Gender-Based Violence;
Economic justice and rights; Bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and
rights (SRHR); Feminist action for climate justice; Technology and innovation for
gender equality; Feminist movements and leadership.
Priority areas as raised by Minister:
GBVF and raising awareness to the National Strategic Plan on GBV: A South
Africa free from gender-based violence directed at women, children and LGBTQIA+
persons
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Women and COVID-19: To ensure that society’s response to COVID-19 factors in the
disproportionate effects COVID-19 has had on women, and to ensure that
programmes-in-aid and regeneration efforts close and not widen gender inequalities
Economic justice: Women must be at the centre of economic transformation, access
to and participation in the mainstream economy, ownership and control of land, as well
as ensuring equal pay for work of equal value must be prioritised.
The following media will be targeted:
a. Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities Media Database
b. GCIS Media Contact List
c. GCIS Community
d. SABC TV
e. SABC Radio Stations
f. ENCA
g. Newzroom Afrika
h. Provincial and Local Newspapers
i. National Print Media Houses
11. KEY MESSAGES
The key message is to show support and understanding for the significance of
Women’s Month.
Minister identified the main thematic areas under the theme as follows:
• GBVF
• COVID-19 and its Impact on Women
• Economic justice
Women’s Month During COVID-19
a. COVID 19 continues to destroy families and communities, and will have a
profound and lasting impact which will be felt for years to come.
b. Women remain disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
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c. While the State of Disaster was necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 it
has also affected the livelihood of millions of women in the informal sector
through loss of income, job losses, etc.
d. Cases of gender-based violence have continued during the lockdown resulting
in women being displaced from homes.
e. Women on the frontline in fighting the virus have also lost their lives through
infection, robbing homes of primary caregivers.
f. The culling of jobs across the country has resulted in loss of income to many
single-headed households where mothers/grandmothers/aunts care for multiple
family members.
g. Government’s efforts in providing over 500 000 (May 2020) food parcels, and
the R350 COVID-19 Relief Grant has allowed millions of families to eat, during
the difficult lockdown period.
h. Young women in schools have been unable to access sanitary products to
manage their menstrual cycles, due to schools being closed. This brings to light
the need for the Sanitary Dignity Programme to ensure women are able to
manage their menstrual cycles with dignity.
i. Women continue to carry the burden of unpaid care work. Women are expected
to care for children and families while at home, as well as maintaining the home.
This care burden is also extended to family members, children across the
family, neighbours, etc.
Closing gaps in gender disparities
j. Since 1994 great strides have been made to ensure women enjoy the same
rights as their male counterparts in relation to education, employment, property,
inheritance and justice.
k. During Women’s Month, we pay tribute to women in the liberation struggle and
the women of today.
l. The women of 1956, and countless others set the tone for gender equality and
empowerment in a democratic South Africa.
m. Their brave actions inspired women to take their rightful place in parliament,
government and civil society.
n. Through their sacrifices, we now live in a country which recognises women as
equal citizens, with equal rights and responsibilities.
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o. Due to the selfless acts of many, South African women have taken their rightful
place in parliament, government and civil society.
p. South Africa increased the access of girls to education, initiated bursaries and
training programmes for young women and allocated funds for women
entrepreneurs.
q. More however still needs to be done to ensure the full participation of women in
the economy and women in leadership positions.
r. We must work to remove the barriers which prevent women from entering and
thriving in the labour market.
s. The promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment is central to
government’s efforts to combat poverty and stimulate sustainable development.
t. The report on the 25 year review of Women’s Empowerment and Gender
Equality in South Africa shows improvement in a number of areas where
women’s rights were infringed upon.
Government is committed to ending GBVF
a. Government has a zero-tolerance approach towards abuse.
b. Government condemns all forms of gender-based violence and calls on all men
to respect women’s inherent dignity.
c. Various forms of abuse like economic abuse, blesser syndrome, illegal labour
practises, emotional abuse, physical abuse, workplace harassment,
harassment and sexual abuse at places of worship, or places of higher learning,
continue at alarming levels.
d. Government has set up Thusong Service Centres as one stop centres for
services, and these services extend to women requiring help with reporting
cases of GBV by facilitating engagements with SAPS and Social Workers.
e. The Khuseleka Centres offer a continuum of services to victims of crime and
violence.
f. White Door Centres serve as immediate shelter for victims of gender based
violence in communities.
g. Survivors of gender based violence can call 24 hour toll free number – 0800
428 428.
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h. The National Strategic Plan and formation of the National GBV Council show
efforts by government to coordinate the efforts of thousands of South Africans
to end GBVF.
i. South Africa’s Constitution elevates human rights, equality and freedom for all
of its citizens, irrespective of gender.
j. South Africa views violence against women as a violation of human rights and
perpetuators of these vile acts must face the law.
k. All South Africans must act to prevent abuse and to ensure a safer society for
women and children.
l. Government alone cannot eradicate this scourge and calls on all sectors to
partner with it in creating safer communities.
m. End homophobic bullying in schools, places of learning and in society by
reporting such acts to school management and the police.
n. Every person must place a role in ending abuse by addressing stereotypes and
making abuse an open topic.
o. No abuse must go unhindered. Families and communities must unite against
abusers by reporting these abusers and providing support to victims.
Priorities for women and girls during Women’s Month
South Africa to focus on the following priorities for accelerating progress for women
and girls in your country for the coming five years through laws, policies and
programmes?
a. Equality and non-discrimination under the law and access to justice
b. Quality education, training and life-long learning for women and girls
c. Poverty eradication, agricultural productivity and food security.
d. Eliminating violence against women and girls.
e. Access to affordable quality health care, including sexual and reproductive
health and reproductive rights.
f. Strengthening women’s participation in ensuring environmental sustainability.
g. Gender-responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and auditing
must be implemented across all departments.
h. Digital and financial inclusion for women. Addressing economic injustice,
addressing unequal pay for work of equal value, glass ceilings, juniorisation of
women at places of work, etc.
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i. Changing negative social norms and gender stereotypes must be challenged at
all times, especially by influencers in modern society who have the ability to
bring about behavioural change in society.
Women with disabilities
a. Women with disabilities face compounded discrimination. We must break
stereotypes and misnomers that frame disabled women, as weak, or unable to
work and care, and have a social life.
b. We must address cultural and societal judgements that occur as a result of a
women’s disability or inability in one particular area.
c. I am a young, black woman with a disability – I personify BBBEE
d. Young women with disabilities are women first
e. Mothers of children with disabilities are women first
f. My wheelchair does not define me, I am a woman who happens to use a
wheelchair to get around
g. I might be blind, but this does not detract or hinder me in identifying my rapist
or enjoying equal access to justice
h. My intellectual disability does not reduce my pain and anger from being
violated
i. My disability does not reduce my dreams of becoming a successful
businesswoman
j. Know me by my ability, not my disability
k. My spirit is as free as yours
l. We are all different. It’s our strength
Advancing women empowerment through economic justice
a. The promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment is central to our
efforts to combat poverty and stimulate sustainable development.
b. Empowerment of women is everyone’s business and needs the support of
government, business, labour and civil society.
c. Let’s invest in women entrepreneurship to grow our country’s economy.
d. Since 1994 we have progressively increased access to education, initiated
bursaries and training programmes for young women and allocated funds for
women entrepreneurs.
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e. More still needs to be done to ensure the full participation of women in the
economy and women in leadership positions.
f. We must work to remove the barriers which prevent women from entering and
thriving in the labour market.
g. The 2020 MTEF guidelines have made a requirement that departments show
how much of budgets goes to the following beneficiaries / lens: Women, Youth
(and children) and Persons with Disabilities, pro-poor and pro-rural
communities.
h. Women increasingly occupy positions of authority and leadership in the public
and private sector and in careers previously the exclusive preserve of men.
i. Significant advances have been made in women’s health, including lower
maternal mortality rates and through the implementation of the largest
antiretroviral (ARV) programme in the world.
j. There has been improved access for women and girls’ to basic and higher
education, which includes financial support for tertiary education.
k. The most vulnerable in society have been supported by our social assistance
programme through mechanisms such as the child support grant.
l. Other important anti-poverty measures include free public health services to
pregnant women.
m. We have advocated for an all-inclusive approach to Women’s Financial
Inclusion across all sectors of the economy.
n. Facilitated the coordination of enabling environments to mainstream the
economic empowerment of Women in government and private sector
institutions.
o. Lobbied the private sector, non-government organisations and international
organisations to incorporate the inclusion of women in their policies,
programmes, projects and products.
p. Mobilised resources to support campaigns and programmes that promote the
inclusion of women in the economy.
q. Continue to call for the structural reform of our economy, through the use of
empirical data collection and the further dissemination of such data, sharing
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best practices relating to the inclusion and empowerment of women across all
sectors of our economy.
r. Support the continued strengthening and further development of women’s
capacity in leadership, management, ownership and entrepreneurship.
s. Implementing sector specific interventions that recognise the diversity of
women across all industries.
t. Promoted the provision of an integrated approach across all spheres of
government.
Ending discrimination against LGBTQIA+ Community
u. Sexual Identity and Sexual preferences are personal choices that do not take
away a person’s human rights.
v. Homophobic or transphobic attitudes are harmful and have no place in a free
and democratic society.
w. A woman’s personal preferences in no way affects you as a fellow South
African.
x. A woman’s sexual orientation is protected under the Constitution and it is a
criminal act to slander or enact harmful actions on the grounds of homophobia
or transphobia.
y. Same-Sex Marriages is legal in South Africa and is protected under law.
z. Infringing on a person’s economic, social and cultural rights based on their
sexual orientation or identity goes against the Constitution.
aa. End homophobic bullying in schools, places of learning and in society by
reporting such acts to the police.
bb. Through societal backlash, judgement and callousness LGBT persons may turn
to alcohol, substances, and self-harm as coping mechanisms. This can be
avoided by showing respect for the choices others make, without judgement.
cc. A woman’s personal choices in no way harms another individual, so there is no
justifiable grounds for discrimination of any sort.
dd. Homophobia within families and communities must be eradicated by being more
accepting of all persons.
ee. There is no place for homophobia and transphobia in places of learning, places
of work, places of worship, as well as government, especially within SAPS, etc.
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ff. Coalitions on non-discrimination on a focus on LGBT Community are
encouraged to raise their voices to change and break hetero-normative thinking
and stereotypes that exist.
12. KEY MESSENGERS
a. The President of The Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa
b. The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr David Mabuza
c. The Minister in the Presidency: Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
d. Deputy Minister in the Presidency: Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,
Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize
e. The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Nkosinathi Emmanuel "Nathi"
Mthethwa
f. The Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Ms Nocawe Noncedo Mafu
g. Ministers of the IMC on GBV
h. Ministers and Deputy Ministers
i. The Acting Director General of Department of Women, Dr Annette Griessel
j. CEO of NYDA, Mr Waseem Carrim
k. Chairperson of Commission on Gender Equality, Ms Tamara Mathebula
l. Spokesperson for Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mr
Shalen Gajadhar
m. Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson for Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane,
Ms Mmabatho Ramompi
n. Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson for Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize, Mr
Pelane Mabula-Phakgadi
o. Women who has been involved in 1956 march, or other historical events
p. Young women, intergenerational messaging around women’s month, from a young
disabled women
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13. TARGET GROUP
The messages will reach South Africans through our online campaign as well as
activities and media interactions. This messaging will form part of government’s wider
messaging during Women’s Month and draw attention to activities during the month
under the thematic areas explored above.
The intended target audience for our messaging and activities can be divided into the
following sectors. This will assist in directing relevant messaging, i.e. that particular
messages are communicated to particular audiences to generate interest and
conversation.
Target Audience Channels
Public
Faith Based Org
Arts
The public will be mobilised through all platforms:
• Radio, TV & Print
• Community Media (Radio and Print).
• African language stations
• Social Media
Sectors:
Men sector
Women’s
Formations
• Critical Thinking Forum
• National Dialogues
• Campaign toolkits
Media Flow of information to the rest of stakeholders and the public
in this various platforms will be utilised including, but not
limited to:
• Media engagements
• Media releases
• Media briefings / special briefings
• Fact sheets and key messages
• Interview opportunities and written responses
Youth
(rural, non-urban
and urban)
To utilize tactics that speak to the various demographics in
the youth market
• Social media
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• Campus radio
• On-line communication, dialogues
• TV and preferred platform to access information
Business (private)
Sector, Arts,
Academics &
Labour
All platforms including TV, Radio, Print (magazines and
tabloids) and on-line will be used. This will be done through
wider government and civil society engagement through
Women’s Month.
Labour Workplace platforms
International
audience/ Foreign
media
The international media is key to reach international audience
since some African countries will be participating in various
events:
• Linkages with the Foreign Correspondence Association
• Advertorials
• Op-edit pieces
• Thought Leadership pieces on various international
publications.
The above list is by no means exhaustive and will be expanded to include all sectors
of society, but various departments, stakeholders and civil society organisations.
14. KEY STAKEHOLDERS
The following role players are regarded as important for the campaign, but do not
exclude other relevant stakeholders who might have a direct or indirect impact:
a. National Departments, including:
b. The Department of Sports Arts and Culture,
c. Department of Social Development,
d. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development,
e. The Department of Traditional Affairs,
f. Department of Small Business Development
g. SAPS,
h. GCIS
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i. Department of Higher Education and Training, Science and Technology
j. National Youth Development Agency
k. Commission for Gender Equality
l. Provincial Departments; local government
m. National NGOs,
n. Civil Society Organisations
o. South African Citizenry
p. National Gender Machinery
q. Presidential Working groups
r. Faith Based Organisations
s. Traditional healers and traditional leaders
t. Women’s Groups and Formations
15. KEY MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES LINKED TO ACTIVITIES
All activities below will have Communications support to ensure stakeholder
engagement, wider audience participation and awareness-raising to the campaign:
Date Event Description Lead
30 July Media launch of Women’s Month
Overview of Women’s Month initiatives and theme Disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on women, young women including those with disabilities due to poverty, inequality and unemployment and links to GBVF
DWYPD
31 July Pan African Women’s Day
High-level African Union meeting focusing on the decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion
DWYPD/ WGDD/ DIRCO/
August Launch of the National 25 year Review on Women
Presentation of the Review and the milestones of the Beijing+25 Platform for action Report
DWYPD
Release of draft document on gender policy priorities: Gender Policy Priorities
Draft Gender Policy priorities for 2020-2025 were developed in 2019/2020. The document should be released for comments, including in the form of policy briefs
DWYPD
August Women’s webinar on the assessment of decent work and equal pay
Policy roundtable with various perspectives on the current status of equal pay for work of equal value in South Africa and proposed interventions ahead,
DWYPD/ CGE/ UNWomen/ Employment
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including a common methodology for measurement
Equity Commission National Business Initiative
August National Women’s Day: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future
National broadcast of the President’s Address
DWYPD/ DSAC/ Legislature
August
Hold a
Continental
Women’s
Assembly
AU Decade for Women’s Economic and Financial Inclusion
Continental Women’s Assembly deliberating on:
• GBVF;
• Women, Peace and Security
• Women and good governance,
including in the context of the
African Peer Review Mechanism
• Africa Free Trade Area
DWYPD/ Pan African Parliament (if in session)/ DIRCO/ National Assembly Women, Gender and Development Directorate (AUC)
August Inter-generational Dialogue to mark International Youth Day Young women
Inter-generational dialogue between struggle veterans and young women
DWYPD/ NYDA
August and beyond
Provincial consultations: Young Women’s current struggles, strategies and intervention
Generation Equality critical areas and development of action plans
DWYPD/UNWomen/Provinces
End August
Hand over torch to DPSA for public servants month
Batho Pele Principles
DWYPD/DPSA
Sept Women’s Assembly
Hosting a National Women’s Assembly in the national parliament with women in every province from provincial legislatures in line with COVID 19 regulations at the time.
DWYPD/ Offices of the Premier/ National Assembly/ Provincial Legislatures/
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16. LOGO, THEME, LOOK AND FEEL
GCIS has developed the look and feel artwork that the department will utilise
synonymous with previous Women’s Month Campaigns to review the country’s
progress over the past year.
Once developed and approved by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane, it will be applied in all
campaign communication and marketing products to facilitate synergy and visibility.
Civil society will be encouraged to use the artwork to show solidarity with the aim of
Women’s Month.
The artwork will represent the generation-to-generation approach i.e. women of
different ages and signify equality through graphic marker – like the equal circles.
The emphasis as per the theme should be on Generation-to-Generation – We must
not forget young girls or older women in our response to Generation Equality.
The artwork, while linking to the UN Theme, will have a South African feel, similar to
Youth Month Approach.
Application: The artwork must exist as a logo as well to be able to apply to various
artwork on GBV etc., during the Women’s Month Campaign
The logo and artwork will be applied to poster designs, social media artwork,
programme design and similar collateral.
The logo together with the #IAmGenerationaEquality theme can be used across civil
society to show solidarity with the cause of addressing inequality.
The toolkit prepared will contain social media banners, the logo as well as key
messages which will be distributed by GCIS.
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17. SOCIAL MEDIA
The reality is that parts of South Africa may still be at various levels of Lockdown due
to the declared State of Disaster, means that online platforms will be used extensively
to raise awareness and encourage participation. The event will be covered on our
social media platforms, Twitter and Facebook. Being a country campaign, the social
media accounts of various departments as well as civil society organisations will string
posts together using #WomensMonth2020. The hashtags will be popularised through
media and government use, as well as GCIS constant messaging.
Multi-media messaging will run on social media platforms, with banners, artwork,
messages, linking to work of civil society, and re-tweets expressing support for
Women’s Month Activities. Social media messaging will utilise the international
hashtag #GenerationEquality as well as #WhatWomenWant
Our Call to Action campaign will carry the hashtag #IAmGenerationEquality as a
statement of strength and solidarity with the project of responding to inequality. This
hashtag will be used in conjunction with images showing programmes, projects, efforts
and collaborations that support women empowerment and responding to injustices.
Hashtags linked to the thematic areas under the main theme will be used to spark
specific discussions. These hashtags would include #StopGBV #EconomicJustice
#ASaferSA
1. On Twitter, we will use our handle @DWYPD_ZA to raise awareness and
distribute messages.
2. Our Facebook Page (@dywpdza) will also be used to host photos and to host
a library of photos after the event.
3. Content will also be shared on WhatsApp Groups of Journalists, as well as
Government Groups and Journalists Groups.
4. The hashtag #WomensMonth2020 will be used to cluster posts.
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5. Government’s Call to Action will be captured under the hashtag
#WHATWOMENWANT which will allow South African Women of diverse
backgrounds to tell their story of the society they want to see.
6. Media Statements issued by the department will be sent out on Facebook and
Twitter tagging the following: @PresidencyZA @GCISMedia,
@GovernmentZA; @Power987News @SAfmRadio @Radio702 @ANN7tv
@eNCA @SABCTVNews @SABCNewsroom (further handles to enhance this
list)
7. Photos of activities as they unfold live will be uploaded to Facebook, and will
be shared via our Twitter accounts, utilising the hashtags mentioned above, to
achieve maximum reach.
8. Other Departments targeted include:
9. SAPS (@SAPoliceService)
10. The Department of Social Development (@The_DSD)
11. The Department of Health (@HealthZA)
12. Government Communications and Information Systems (@GCISMedia and
@GovernmentZA)
13. Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (@DOJCD_ZA)
14. The Presidency (@PresidencyZA)
18. COMMUNICATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES
Activity Responsibility Date
Media launch DWYPD,GCIS, DSAC 31 July 2020
Develop Communication
strategy and plan
DWYPD July 2020
Briefing of Media Houses /
Media Information Packs
DWYPD,GCIS July 2020
Develop and issuing of
statement for launch of
Women’s Month
DWYPD, GCIS, July 2020
Development of Artwork, for
online
DWYPD,GCIS July 2020
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Media Interviews DWYPD, GCIS, DSAC July onwards
Posting to Social Media DWYPD Communications
GCIS, DSAC,
Government Departments
Civil Society Organisations
July onwards
Issuance of Media
Statements
DOW Communications,
GCIS, DAC
July–August 2020
Weekly
19. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Women’s Month is a country campaign and will require the efforts of all of government
and civil society to raise issues and to celebrate achievements affecting women, young
women and women with disabilities. As the Department of Women, Youth and Persons
with Disabilities, the department will support the work of other departments in all their
events, campaigns, as well as messaging and information sharing plans, to maximise
reach of Women’s Month messaging.
This plan serves as an outline of Communications and will be operationalized through
work with GCIS and government partners.
The introduction of Webinars and online platforms for Communication will also affect
how Communications rolls out this campaign. Lessons learnt through hosting webinars
during the state of disaster will prepare the department to host similar activities and
engagements.
During Women’s Month, media attention cannot only be focused on the work of
government, but also on the work of the private sector, as well as citizens who excel
in their fields.
Our media messaging must:
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Raise awareness: Educate the South African public on programmes and funding
commitments of government in bringing about gender equality and emancipation of
women through economic emancipation.
Generate Advocacy: Be unapologetic about raising attention to sectors and areas
that are slow to transform.
Inspire Others: Celebrate the stories of successful women (young women and
women with disabilities) who have excelled in their fields of interest to become
trailblazers and thought leaders.
20. COMMUNICATION IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX
The below table outlines the proposed list of communications functions which will be
supported by GCIS, DWYPD, DSAC, Presidency Communications and other
communications officials.
ACTIVITY SUB-ACTIVITIES SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
Development of Women’s Month communication strategy
Communication strategy to include the following:
• Analysis of
communication
environment
• Communication
objectives
• Key messages
• Key communication
platforms and
mechanisms
• Key communicators
• Communication phases
and key communication
milestones
DWYPD GCIS
First draft May 2020 Finalise by 25 July 2020
Development of media liaison strategy and plan
Media liaison strategy and plan including key media platforms and target audiences
DWYPD DSAC
July 2020
Branding strategy Development of overall brand, look and feel, design
As above 25 July 2020
37
ACTIVITY SUB-ACTIVITIES SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
options for various branded products etc.
Draft and issue media advisory
When an event involves Minister and Deputy Minister, consult with MLOs on event.
Communications / Programme / MLO
3 days before event
Develop and upload social media content
As part of Communications Plan
Communications On day of event / During Campaign period
Arrange build up media interviews
As part of Communications Plan
Prepare media pack for journalists – to be handed to them at launch.
Decide on materials to go into media pack
Communications / Programme
2 days before event
Draft and issue media statement
Depending on type of event (open or closed)
Communications / Programme / MLO
On day of event or within 24 hours after event
Secure voice note/ video recording from Minister/Deputy Minister for circulation in the media
Develop narrative / script Communications / Programme / MLO
At Media Launch
Draft opinion pieces on behalf of Minister/ DM
When linked to wider country campaign
Communications / Programme / MLO
As part of Media Plan
Form part of Departmental Task Team
Guided by Programme Communications One month prior to event
Attending planning meetings.
Make arrangements to attend planning meetings Engage local communicators in drafting Comms Plan
Communications One month prior to event
Convene Communications Task Team on Women’s Month
Establish Communications Channels Prepare Reports and report into meetings
DWYPD DSAC GCIS
July-September
Inputs on Submission Make inputs on submission for media buying, production costs, banners and artwork,
Communications
38
ACTIVITY SUB-ACTIVITIES SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
procurement of lanyards, marketing collateral etc.
Conduct site visit Visit location of event to evaluate branding plan, media set up etc.
Communications 27/28 July
Engage/ conduct meetings with GCIS
To secure support in build up to, and during event
Communications
Arrange and attend meeting with broadcast journalists to establish possible partnerships
Engage local communicators to build relationships with local media
Communications / MLO
1 Week Prior to Event
Evaluate branding requirements for event
Evaluate venue. Develop branding plan together with Provincial and Local, as well as other departments, and organisations
Communications
Branding Guidelines in case of physical event
Political Briefing: 1 X Wall Banner. 2 X Pull Ups Table Cloths Entrance Area: 2 X Teardrops (If outside venue) 2 X Pull Up Banners Table Cloths for registration tables Main Event (Tent): 1 X Wall Banner 2 X Pull Ups 2 X Teardrops on either side of tent
Communications One day prior to event as well as on day of event
Edit Media advisory and send to staff
Prepare communications to staff via email informing them of event
Communications 2 Days before event
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21. BACKGROUND READING
This Political declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
Fourth World Conference on Women, January 2020
We, the Ministers and representatives of Governments,
Reiterate our pledge to make this decade one of action and delivery for
sustainable development by accelerating our common efforts to reach this vision
by 2030 and to this end, pledge to take further concrete action to ensure the full,
effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform
for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the
General Assembly and of the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030
Agenda, including by:
1. removing all discriminatory laws and ensuring the full implementation of laws,
policies, strategies and programme activities for all women and girls;
2. strengthening institutional mechanisms for gender equality and the
empowerment of women and girls at all levels;
3. integrating gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across
the economic, social, political and environmental dimensions of development,
as well as the peace and development continuum;
4. ensuring that laws, policies and programmes benefit all women and girls, and
that policies are systematically evaluated to ensure they do not create and
reinforce inequalities and marginalization;
5. matching commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of women
and girls with adequate financing through the mobilization of financial
resources from all sources;
6. strengthening accountability for the implementation of existing commitments
to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls;
7. transforming discriminatory norms and gender stereotypes and promoting
social norms and practices that recognize the positive role and contribution of
women and eliminate discrimination against women and girls;
40
8. harnessing the potential of technology to improve women’s lives and
addressing the risks of technologies for gender equality and the empowerment
of women and girls;
9. closing data and evidence gaps through the regular production of gender
statistics to monitor the implementation of the Platform for Action and the
Sustainable Development Goals.