Kindly print out the pdf format bulletins for notice boards. Click on the icon to open the bulletin in pdf format.

17 May 2006: No 25/06

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF WOMEN IN DEFENCE 24-26 MAY 2006

On 24 May 2006 the DOD women together with other women from across the broad spectrum of civic and the security cluster public sector departments will have an imbizo, at the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre in Benoni. Th 300 delegates are expected at this historical conference and they will deliberate on matters that will enhance their role in the peace building and peacekeeping missions.

The theme of the conference is: “The Status of Women in the Transformation of the Security Sector in South Africa”.

President Thabo Mbeki will attend the women’s conference together with the First Lady, Ms Zanele Mbeki, the Minister of Defence Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, the Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Mluleki George, parliamentarians, members of the PDSC, gender activists from NGOs, SAWID, and the Commission on Gender Equality and the Office on the Status of Women.

This conference is organised by the “ Gender Mainstreaming Council” (GMC). Which consist of representatives from Services and Divisions. One of its responsibilities is to advise the DOD Top leadership on how to promote gender equity within our ranks.

The purpose of the women’s national conference is to initiate dialogue between all stakeholders in order to devise strategies and reach consensus on how the current gender imbalances can be corrected within the Department of Defence.

Delegates will be divided into different commissions where they would discuss various issues such as Women’s participation in the Africa’s Standby Force, their appointment as Ocs in SANDF unit, AU and UN Missions ect. The outcome of the conference will result in the formulation of the DOD Gender Mainstreaming Policy and Strategy.

The CDEO Maj Gen N.E.Motumi is the Convenor of the National Conference of Women in Defence.