_: North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise is to share her experiences of dealing with women in conflicts, governance and women empowerment with women on the continent at the 8th Biennial International Seminar Management Development for Women in Africa that commences tomorrow, Tuesday 21 August 2012, at the International Convention Centre in Durban.
Premier Modise is to deliver the keynote address at the opening and recognition ceremony scheduled to commence at 10h00.
The 5-day- seminar convened under the theme: “Women in Leadership-The Key to regional prosperity, good governance, peace building, development and social justice “with reappraising the millennium development goals, Women and Rural Development as its two major sub themes is aimed at:
upgrading knowledge in certain specific areas of leadership and governance and allow of country and institutional experience and explore to the new trends in this fields on how women can apply themselves for national prosperity, peace building, conflict resolution, crisis management and good governance.
Increasing the knowledge of women involved in and or aspiring for public governance, leadership, public service, peace negotiation, crisis management, conflict resolution and community development-examining the major factors, obstacles in the advancement of women for positions of leadership.
Sensitising the participating women concerning the increasing role in the political, social justice, peace building, conflict resolution, crisis management and economic processes in the region.
Coming up with forward looking strategies urging governments to increase the role of women in the politico-socio-economic affairs and decision making processes in the region at all levels.
The seminar will also receive country presentations and assess how policies and legislation in different countries have had an impact on women between 2000 -2012?
It will also reflect on lessons from women icons under the subtheme linking the past, with the present and the future.
Premier Modise has participated in peace mission to stabilise regions such as East Timor, Nigeria and Rwanda, contributed to International Conferences highlighting women’s roles in negotiations and conflict resolution and also campaigned for the adoption and implementation of Affirmative Action programmes to combat Gender and Race Discrimination in South Africa.
She has previously presented papers on the effects of women involvement in conflict resolution processes, women’s contribution to peace, Elements of post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, NEPAD: Women in SA struggle for Liberation , the role of gender in the DDR in Sudan, the role of NGO’s in the struggle against HIV and AIDA amongst women in South Africa.