Preamble
Violence against women manifests itself in various forms. It is defined by the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women as "any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threat of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life". - Resolution adopted by the General Assembly Resolution: 48/104 dated 23 February 1994.Violence against women cannot be divorced from women's poverty, lack of economical empowerment, inadequate access to education and training, women being denied their political empowerment and violation of their legal or human rights.
Actions need to be accelerated to address these issues. It is imperative to eliminate social, cultural and individual attitudes and practices that perpetuate gender discrimination.
National Network on Violence Against Women
There shall be an independent body known as the National Network on Violence Against Women (from here on referred to as the Network), comprising representation by provincial networks and national government departments, and other relevant bodies as determined and approved by the National Network Committee in consultation with provincial networks.- Definitions
- Amendments to the Constitution
1.1 The network shall be an autonomous, non-political, non-profit making non-sexist, non-racist voluntary association whose main purpose shall be the eradication of violence against women.
1.2 A non-governmental organization is any organization which does not form part of any government institution and is created out of need to render services in the community and is not profit-based. It performs its duties and functions on the local, provincial, national and international levels.
1.3 A community-based organization does not form part of any government institution and is also created out of need to render services in the community and is not profit-based. Its duties and functions are performed only locally.
The main purpose is to strive towards the prevention and eradication of all forms of violence against women. The implicit purpose is capacity building.
The Network shall have the following functions:
3.1 To act as a link body between members sharing its main purpose and government to facilitate networking between these constituencies.
3.2 To act in an advisory capacity on all matters relevant to its main purpose through consultation with provincial networks.
3.3 To collect and disseminate relevant information and establish a database/ directory of information as assembled by the Network.
3.4 To support local, provincial, national and international initiatives in the field of violence against women and encourage the establishment of relevant structures and networks.
3.5 To organize conferences, seminars and workshops at national and international levels in accordance with its main objective.
3.6 To encourage and initiate research projects on violence against women.
3.7 To encourage and promote the training and sensitisation of service providers as well as the public.
3.8 To lobby and advocate on behalf of women affected by violence.
3.9 To form coalitions with other networks where forming coalitions furthers the aims of the Network.
3.10 To facilitate the drawing up of policy guidelines.
3.11 To monitor and evaluate all activities related to violence against women.
3.12 To supply policy guidelines, facilitating the development of policy documents and protocols on violence against women.
3.13 To develop training initiatives and educate the role players as well as the public.
3.14 To raise funds in order to achieve the objectives of the Network at national and provincial levels, ensuring the equal and fair distribution of funds.
3.15 To network at provincial, national and international levels.
3.16 To hold an Annual General Meeting at which a report will be presented together with a financial report.
4.1 National Committee
The National Committee shall consist of the following:
A maximum of two (2) representatives from each provincial network of which any one (1) shall attend meetings and only one (1) representative from each of the National Departments of Justice, Health, Welfare, Education, Safety and Security, Labour and Education. The provincial representative shall have a tenure or two (2) years. The National Committee may co-op members onto the Committee. The National Committee shall be accountable to the provincial networks through the provincial representatives. The provincial representatives shall, by a majority vote, have the right to veto decisions taken by the National Committee.
4.2 Executive Committee
4.2.1 Composition
There shall be an executive committee comprising: two (2) chairpersons elected by the members of the National Committee, one being a non-governmental representative and the other a government representative; one (1) additional non- governmental representative; a secretary and a treasurer. The two chairpersons and the additional non-governmental representative shall have voting rights. The non- governmental chairperson will be elected by the provincial networks and the governmental chairperson will be appointed by government representatives. The secretary or treasurer shall be co-opted or appointed by members. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly and have full authority to take all decisions necessary to manage the affairs of the Committee in terms of the stated objectives to ensure the efficient operation of the committee. The Executive Committee shall obtain verbal or written permission from the majority of the provincial networks, government Departments and representatives to take action falling outside its stated policy. The Executive Committee may appoint staff on behalf of the National Committee and enter into agreements and collect contributions.4.2.2 Election of Executive Committee
Office bearers shall be elected during the first meeting of the year of the National Committee and shall have a tenure of two (2) years. Any office bearer failing to attend two consecutive meetings without just cause shall automatically be deemed to have resigned and will be replaced by a person co-opted by the remaining office bearers, such office bearer to remain in that capacity until the following biennial general meeting.
4.3 Secretary
There shall be a secretary, co-opted or appointed by the National Committee who shall keep written record of all meetings of the National Committee and the Executive Committee and who shall distribute these minutes.
4.4 Treasurer
There shall be a treasurer, co-opted or appointed by the National Committee who shall administer the funds entrusted to the National Committee and be entrusted with the keeping of books, reflecting all transactions professionally, accurately and fairly. These transactions must be written up and shall be inspected by the auditors.
4.5 Provincial Networks
Each provincial network shall have a constitution and will be an autonomous body whilst adhering to the principles of the constitution of the National Network. Each provincial network shall submit ongoing information regarding provincial initiatives to the National Committee by April each year and shall submit an annual certified financial statement and report to the National Committee. Financial statements and books must be available at all times for scrutiny.
4.6 Membership
Any person or organization who complies with the objective of the Network shall be a member. They should also be part of the provincial networks and/or government departments.
There shall be an annual general meeting of which a report shall be tabled and presented together with an audited financial statement.
6.1 Non-governmental organizations will have the power to veto. A quorum shall consist of a minimum of six (6) provincial representatives.
6.2 The Network will have the power to hire personnel, purchase or acquire equipment, invest monies, operate a banking account, enter into agreement and collect contributions.
6.3 The Executive Committee members may make statements, comment officially or submit articles on behalf of the Committee to the media or any other body, or delegate such authority to a sub-committee, after consultation with provincial networks if necessary.
6.4 Sub-committees may be formed as need arises.
The books of the network shall be subject to a yearly audit conducted by a firm of auditors chosen by the Executive Committee. The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March in any given year.
Amendments to this constitution can only be made at an annual general meeting, biennial conference or special meeting after a majority vote in favour of such change after consultation with the provincial networks and government representatives, provided it is approved by six (6) majority of the provincial networks. Amendments to the constitution must be submitted to the Director of Fund- raising for approval.
The organization may be dissolved if a least two-thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting of members convened for the purpose of considering such matter are in favour of dissolution. Not less than twenty-one days' notice shall be given of such meeting and the notice convening the meeting shall clearly state that the question of dissolution of the organization and disposal of its assets will be considered. If there is no quorum at such a general meeting, the meeting shall stand adjourned for not less than one week and the members attending such meeting shall constitute a quorum.
If upon dissolution of the organization there remain any assets whatsoever, after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such assets shall not be paid to or distributed among its members, but shall be given to such other organization(s) preferably having similar objectives and which is/are authorised in terms of the Fund-raising Act, 1978, to collect contributions as may be decided either by the members at the general meeting at which it was decided to dissolve the organization or, in default of such decision as may be decided by the Director of Fund-raising.
The provincial representatives of the National Committee and the Executive Committee and co-opted members may receive an annual stipend to be approved by the provincial networks.
No member any provincial network or national network will be held liable jointly or severally for the liabilities and/or debts incurred by any provincial network or the national network.
Decisions of the executive committee must be submitted to the national committee for approval.
No member of the national committee shall have a direct or indirect benefit from any contract which the national committee may conclude with any company unless mandated by the national committee.
Should the services of a fund-raiser be made use of for collection of contributions, the expenses (remuneration and/or commission included) may not exceed 40% of the total turnover of the collection.
Paid officials of the organization may serve on the national committee in an advisory capacity but will have no voting rights.
Funds available for investment may be invested only with registered financial institutions as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investments of Funds) Act, 1984, or in the acquisition of securities listed on a licensed stock exchange as defined in the Stock Exchange Control Act, 1985.
No competition, contest, game, scheme, arrangement or system in connection with which any prize may be won shall be conducted, or caused to be conducted, by the organization unless an authority in terms of any other Act has been obtained beforehand.
All property shall be registered in the name of the organization.
This constitution shall be called the Constitution of the National Network on Violence Against Women.
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