GAUTENG MOVES TO ENHANCE STATUS OF WOMEN
By Edwin Tshivhidzo, Pretoria

December 1, 2003 – (BuaNews- Pretoria) The Gauteng Government has gone a long way in accommodating women in the day-to-day activities of the provincial government, says Premier Mbhazima Shilowa.

Premier Shilowa told the three-day Women in Dialogue Conference in Midrand today, that the province boasted women in senior management level but added that his government conceded there was still a lot more work to be done to enhance the status of women.

The dialogue is aimed at giving women an opportunity to share views on how best they can build a future in the province.

Mr Shilowa told delegates that the best way to deal with poverty was to engage women in economic growth and not by just providing social grants.

"We need to consolidate our democracy and create opportunities for all. Women find it difficult to secure financial assistance from financial institutions and that must be addressed," said the Premier.

The premier also indicated that the provincial government was faced with the challenge of combating HIV and AIDS and dealing with the problem of unemployment and poverty.

Premier Shilowa said the provincial government still faced the challenge of reducing unemployment among women.

Delegates at the dialogue will also reflect on the achievements of women during the first ten years of democracy, identify challenges and develop broad strategies to improve women's status over the next ten years.

They will also identify key areas of partnership and action for government, the private sector and civil society in the next ten years.

The event is a follow-up to the National Women's Dialogue, held in July this year, under the leadership of Mrs Zanele Mbeki as well as the Gauteng Women's Imbizo in August 2003.

Progress in redressing gender imbalances and ways to consolidate women's gains will come under the spotlight. Representatives of various women organisations in Gauteng are attending the conference.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312011092.html