CGE ANNUAL REPORT

2022/23 ANNUAL REPORT

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About The Commission For Gender Equality

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is one of the institutions established in terms of Chapter 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996). In terms of section 187 of the Constitution, the mandate of the CGE is to contribute to strengthening and deepening constitutional democracy in South Africa through the promotion, protection, development, and attainment of gender equality. The powers and functions of the CGE are further outlined in the CGE Act 39 of 1996 as amended (“CGE Act”), which include monitoring and evaluating the policies and practices of government, the private sector and other organisations to ensure that they promote and protect gender equality; public education and information; reviewing existing and upcoming legislation from a gender perspective; investigating inequality; commissioning research and making recommendations to Parliament or other authorities; investigating complaints on any gender-related issue and monitoring and reporting on South Africa’s compliance with international conventions. The CGE is therefore an independent institution that is subject to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of South Africa, as well as public service governance guidelines and principles of administrative justice. The Commission must, therefore, operate in an impartial manner in the exercise of its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice. The Constitution expressly articulates that the Bill of Rights is the foundation of our democracy which preserves the rights of the citizens of the Republic by entrenching the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom and that these rights amongst others must be respected, protected and fulfilled. The Commission is an independent, catalyst organisation for the development and attainment of gender equality. Section 187(2) grants the Commission “the power as regulated by national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power to monitor, investigate, research, educate, lobby and advise and report on issues concerning gender equality”. Furthermore, the CGE has powers to review policies of public and private entities from a gender perspective and to ensure gender-aware and responsive policy making and practices. The CGE evaluates legislation, policies, practices and mechanisms and make recommendations to bring about continuous improvements to advance gender equality. This enables the CGE to influence legislative and policy changes which advance gender equality, whilst monitoring state compliance with national, international, and regional instruments promoting gender equality. The CGE promotes and protect gender equality through public awareness, education, and investigation, which is intended to lead to a more gender aware society, to contribute to change of behaviour and promote practices that promote social justice for victims of gender violations. These initiatives further promote gender responsive policies and practices and prevent systemic gender violations. Through executing its mandate, the CGE identifies and monitors key issues that impact on gender equality, investigate, and evaluate issues that undermine the attainment of gender equality leading to improved policy responses and practices on substantive equality. The CGE and its leadership strive to build and maintain efficient and effective organisational systems, processes and mechanisms whilst promoting and protecting gender equality. The Commission’s head office is located in Johannesburg, and it has nine provincial offices across the country.

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