African Activist Archive

Mailing from Rachael Kagan, Women's Project Coordinator, to the U.S. Women's Network.The mailing says last March the Women's National Coalition (WNC), made up of over 80 member organizations, launched the Campaign for the Women's Charter, to ensure that South African women are recognized, protected and granted legal equality by the new democratic government to be elected in April; after a year of intensive research, including a nationwide survey, and the participation of a broad base of South African women, the Charter Campaign is drawing to a successful conclusion; yesterday the WNC national headquarters released a Summary Research Report on Women's Issues for a Women's Charter. The mailing says this report highlights five areas which emerged as key concerns of all women interviewed: Legal Status of Women; Employment, Equal Opportunity and Working Conditions; Violence; Status of Women in Society and the Family; Political Participation of Women. The mailing says I have enclosed this report, as it provides a rare opportunity to hear directly from South African women their concerns during the current period. The mailing says the rest of the process towards completion of the Charter is as follows; next month each of the WNC regions will hold their own conferences to compile the results of research done in their areas; these regional reports will be submitted to National Headquarters by the end of February, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Charter should be ready for release to the public by March - Women's History Month. The mailing says the fact that this incredibly ambitious and first of its kind effort will be successfully completed in one year is a testament to the commitment and perseverance of South African women; the finished Charter will provide excellent material for debate and discussion among candidates for the upcoming elections. The mailing says the next task for women will be to see that elected Constituent Assembly (CA) incorporate the Charter into the new constitution; to aid this endeavor, the WNC is stressing the importance of women themselves being elected to the CA. The mailing says when the Charter is released, I will forward it to you immediately; in the mean time, if you are planning Women's History Month observances, you may want to include celebrating the Women's Charter in your activities; please do not hesitate to contact me for further information; I will be back in touch with more news from South Africa women soon. The mailing includes a media summary of RESEARCH REPORT ON WOMEN'S ISSUES FOR A WOMAN'S CHARTER by the Women's National Coalition. The mailing discusses Violet Senna, SA Domestic Workers Union, Faith Nkosi, COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), Connie September, the Clothing and Textile Workers Union, Lydia Komre, Rural Women's Movement, Mmathhio Motsei, Alexandra Clinic, Lisa Vetten, People Opposing Woman Abuse, Frene Ginwala, Anne Letsebe, Miriam Stein, Thoko Msane, YWCA, Lydia Kompe, Mavivi Manzini, Feroza Adams, Pregs Govender, the migratory labor system, apartheid, Brigitte Mabandla, Community Law Centre, University of Western Cape, the African National Congress (ANC), Cathi Abertyn, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Mavivi Manzini, discrimination against women, and women and the law.

African Activist Archive

South African Women's Charter to be released by March 1994

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