GAUTENG WOMEN TO PLAN FOR NEXT TEN YEARS OF DEMOCRACY
By Richard Mantu, Pretoria

November 30, 2003 – (BuaNews - Pretoria) Representatives of various women organisations in Gauteng will gather in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, this week, to share experiences on how best to improve their status over the next decade.

The three-day Gauteng Women's Dialogue, to be held at the Eskom Conference Centre, from 1 to 3 December, will bring together women from all walks of life, to reflect on their achievements during the first ten years of democracy.

The objective of the dialogue is to give women an opportunity to share experiences and 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 first lady Zanele Mbeki as well as the Gauteng Women's Imbizo, in August 2003.

According to the Gauteng Premier's Office, progress in redressing gender imbalances and practical ways to consolidate women's gains will come under the spotlight.

"Women will have their say on values, identity, citizenship and democracy, economic development, sustainable communities, skills and human resource development as well as gender-based violence," says a statement from the Premier's Office.

Premier Mbhazima Shilowa will tomorrow address delegates on the Gauteng government's 10-year vision for building a future for women in the province and how that will be achieved.

Delegates are expected to emerge with a common programme of action, which would be taken forward by participating organisations and government.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312010600.html