Commission on Gender Equality(link is external)

• The Commission was established in provisions of Section 187 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to promote gender equality, as well as the protection, development, and achievement of gender equality.
• Through research, public education, policy formulation, legislative initiatives, effective monitoring, and litigation, the CGE will work to promote and safeguard gender equality in South Africa.
• In South Africa, the Commission for Gender Equality advocates for defending and developing gender equality.
• Research, public education, policy creation, and legislative initiatives are all part of the CGE’s mission.
• Support CGE initiatives by writing a letter, tweeting, volunteering, and speaking out against gender inequality.

Vision

• A society is free of all types of gender inequity and oppression.

Mission

• Through research, public education, policy formulation, legislative initiatives, effective monitoring, and litigation, to promote, protect, monitor, and assess gender equality.

The CGE’s Function

• The CGE is a legal institution tasked with strengthening constitutional democracy.’ In Chapter 2 of its first constitution, South Africa developed a Bill of Rights in order to establish a framework for a new society.
• This is based on a desire for a free and equitable society in all aspects of life, both basic and material.

DEPARTMENTS

The Legal Department of the Commission was established to undertake the following:

• Investigate accusations that are based on gender.
• Examine legislation, customs, practices, Indigenous law, personal and family law, and personal and family law that affect gender equality or the status of women that are now in effect or proposed by Parliament.
• Recommend to parliament that laws be passed to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
• Monitor compliance with international conventions, covenants, and international charters that the government has acceded to and ratified that are relevant to the CGE’s goal.
• Contribute to the legislative process, particularly in-laws that disproportionately affect women and have an impact on gender equality in South Africa.

The Research Department was established with the following goals in mind:

• Researching, preparing, and presenting project proposals such as policy workshops, democracy conferences, fact-finding – private sector, elections, spatial development initiatives, inputs into drafting white papers, and so on), organizing related meetings/ workshops/ conferences, preparing memos, identifying service providers, and providing input for financial reporting as approved by plenary;
• Facilitating CGE’s participation in collaborative efforts, such as race conferences and policy workshops;
• Finding acceptable sources and producing input for policy documents; department, chair, and commissioner presentations;
• Liaising with various stakeholders and providing input to/updating CGE on current Gender Equality developments locally and internationally.

The Public Education and Information Department was established with the following goals in mind:

In order to achieve the Commission’s goal set out in section 119 (3) of the Constitution, it must:

• Develop, conduct, or administer information and education programs to increase public awareness of issues related to gender equality, as well as the role and operations of the Commission.
• Cooperate with any organization that actively supports gender equality, as well as other sectors of civil society, to further the Commission’s goals.

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