SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICA LOCAL

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE
SUMMIT AND AWARDS
28 – 30 MARCH 2011
KOPANONG HOTEL, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA
“365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END GENDER
VIOLENCE: HALVE GENDER VIOLENCE BY 2015”

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE) BY ‘MABERENTE
 HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING
THIS PROBLEM?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE

ABUSED.
• MAJORITY OF MEN WERE IN JAIL
• OUR DUTY IS TO LET WOMEN AND
CHILDREN KNOW ABOUT THEIR
RIGHTS
• MANY PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY HIV
AND AIDS AS WELL AS POVERTY.

LENTSOE LA BASASLI
(WOMEN’S VOICE)
 IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?

• THIS ISSUE IS VERY VITAL

EMPOWERNMENT

BECAUSE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

WOMEN

HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEIR

RIGHTS AND THE DUTIES.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT
ADDRESSING THI S PROBLEM?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• AS PARALEGALS WE REDUCE THIS PROBLEM BY MAKING

PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND TALKING TO INDIVIDUALS, GIVE
INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LEGAL CAPACITY OF
MARRIED PERSONS ACT (2006) AND WRITING A WILL.
• WE DO FUN WALKS TO MARK THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILD ABUSE AS WELL AS TO GIVE
INFORMATION ON SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT (2003).

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE
PROJECT?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• THE PROJECT IS ON-GOING AND

OF A LONG TERM OPERATION.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’ S

VOICE)
 WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS
INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN
EQUALLY INVOLVED?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• ORPHANS AND YOUTHS

• PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS
• THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TOGETHER WITH THE
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE, CHIEFS, POLICE,
TEACHERS, HEALTH CARE AND COUNCILLORS.
• BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE EQUALY INVOLVED.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE
PROJECT
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• ACTION AID LESOTHO SPONSORED THE ORGANIZATION

THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PROVIDED THEM WITH THE
CHICKENS AND BUILT THE HACTURY TO PRODUCE MORE
CHICKENS.
• GAVE THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS FENCES AND THE SEEDS.
• FINALLY IT PROVIDED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WITH
AWATER PUMP.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL,
HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE
MOBILISED?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE HAVE

THE DUTY AND RESPONISIBILITY
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PROCESS OF REARING CHICKENS
AND BLOCK FARMING CONTINUES
SUCCESSFULLY.
• THE ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE
REPORT S TO ACTION AID.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• CURRENTLY MANY WOMEN HAVE

JOINED THIS PROJECT AND IT IS
GROWING SUCCESSFULLY.
• PEOPLE ATTEND THE PUBLIC
GATHERINGS WITHOUT ANY
HESITATION.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• EVERYBODY IS AWARE AND

KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THEIR
RIGHTS.
• REDUCTION OF CRIME AND POVERTY AS
WOMEN CREATE JOBS FOR
THEMSELVES .
• WOMEN ARE MORE RESPONIBILE.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC
PROTOCOL TARGETS)
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• WOMEN ARE MORE INTERESTED

TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
AND HIV STATUS
• NOWADAYS MANY WOMEN ARE
INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT ISSUES
THAT TAKE PLACE ANYWHERE
WITHOUT BEING CRITICIZED, FOR
INSTANCE IN FAMILY GATHERINGS.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 EFFECTIVENESS
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• WOMEN ARE ABLE TO STAND UP

FOR THEIR RIGHTS BY USING LAW
TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• THIS PROJECT IS SUSTAINABLE

AND CAN BE REPLICATED IN A
LONG TERM.

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)
 LESSONS LEARNED
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

• IMPORTANCE OF LOVE FOR THE

COMMUNITY, PATIENCE AND UNITY

LENTSOE LA BASALI (WOMEN’S

VOICE)