Latest news with #SanitaryDignityFramework
Zawya
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Committee on Women Concerned About Budget for National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities met this week to receive a briefing on the funding of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, the appointment of the National Youth Development Agency Board (NYDA) and the department's Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 and annual performance plan for the 2025/26 financial year. During the committee meeting, members raised serious concerns about the allocated budget of about R5 million for the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The committee noted that this amount was insufficient to meet the comprehensive needs of the Council and the scale of the challenges the Council aims to address. Emphasising the importance of sustainable funding, the Chairperson of the committee, Ms Liezl van der Merwe, said, 'It is imperative that we advocate for a budget that reflects the significance of this issue. The Council must be adequately funded to fulfil its mandate.' Members also wanted to know how the budget would be used for staffing and operational costs. The department informed the members that discussions with National Treasury are ongoing. The department also assured the committee that it is committed to ensuring the Council has the resources it needs to develop and implement programmes to combat gender-based violence. The committee was also concerned about the effectiveness of the Sanitary Dignity Framework - a policy aimed at preserving and maintaining the dignity of indigent girls and women during menstruation. 'The framework is fragmented and not functioning effectively,' the Chairperson said. 'It requires a thorough review to ensure that the funds allocated are spent appropriately.' The committee was also concerned provinces often misallocated the funds they receive for the sanitary dignity programme and highlighted the need for robust oversight to hold provinces accountable. Tomorrow (27 June), the committee will receive a briefing from the National Youth Development Agency on its strategic plan and annual performance plan for the 2025/26 financial year. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
She PowHer summit 2025 sparks dialogue about menstrual dignity in Sandton
The She PowHer Foundation hosted its landmark She PowHer Summit 2025 on May 29 at Artistry in Sandton, under the powerful theme: Invest in Human Capital. The summit brought together leaders in government, corporate South Africa, education, and development to reframe menstrual health as a matter of public investment, economic justice, and human rights. The event was held a day after World Menstrual Health Day, which was a rallying call to make menstrual equity a national priority. Keynote speaker, the Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, delivered a passionate address, calling for greater accountability and transparency in how menstrual dignity funds are spent across provinces. 'This ministry must be the one to answer questions around how provinces are spending the money, whether or not they are buying sanitary pads from women-owned companies. It is not about women's issues; it's about dignity, equity, and basic human rights.' Also read: SAOA encourages women to take care of their eye care Chikunga confirmed that, through national treasury allocations, the department distributed sanitary pads to schools across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Free State, and the Northern Cape in 2024, focusing on quintile 1–3 schools and disadvantaged communities. She also highlighted the implementation of the Sanitary Dignity Framework, which prioritises free, quality, and SABS-compliant menstrual products in public institutions. The summit featured dynamic speakers, including representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Aspen Pharmacare's Dr Stavros Nicolaou, and humanitarian Yavi Madurai, all echoing the urgent need to shift menstrual health into the mainstream of development discussions. Read more: Women Investment Network ignites movement for gender equity in investment landscape At the helm of the movement is Dr Ruth Apostolov, founder of the foundation, whose advocacy has resulted in the distribution of more than 30 000 menstrual cups across Southern Africa. 'This is more than a summit; it is a movement. We are saying Africa doesn't need to import solutions, we manufacture them.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
