South African Women in Law Association (SAWLA)

S A W L A outh frican omen in aw ssociation (SAWLA)

Advancing human rights and equal justice for all ______________________________________________________________

DRAFT

THE CONSTITUTION

Of

The South African Women in Law Association

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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN IN LAW ASSOCIATION

PREAMBLE:

WHEREAS WE, WOMEN LAWYERS OF SOUTH AFRICA -

(i) Are committed to the advancement and empowerment of women lawyers in order to achieve gender equality in the legal sector.

(ii) Are committed to the protection and the promotion of fundamental human rights and equality before the law as enunciated in the Constitution and relevant international instruments.

NOTING THAT ? As South Africans we come from a history of legalised and institutionalised injustice based primarily on a combination of race, gender and other factors

RECOGNISING THAT ? The social consequences of our unjust past continues to undermine equal enjoyment of all fundamental rights and freedoms Our unjust past impacts negatively on women's access to justice and equal protection and benefit from the law as well as women's access to the legal profession.

FURTHER RECOGNISING THAT ? (iii) Women lawyers are in a unique position to impact on the legal

system to ensure equal justice for women and men from all social backgrounds

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WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO(iv) The eradication of gender discrimination and other forms of

inequality or abuse in the legal sector and other areas of life; and (v) Play an effective role in the transformation of the legal profession,

judiciary and the justice system to promote the legitimacy of the justice system

WE FURTHER COMMIT OURSELVES TO(vi) encourage and promote the role of women in all the spheres of

the administration of justice and the protection of fundamental human rights

(vii) To promote unity and co-operation among all women in the legal sector.

WE NOW THEREFORE ADOPT THIS OUR CONSTITUTION

SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS

In this Constitution unless inconsistent with the context ?

"Association" Means the South African Women in Law Association

"Committee" means a permanent or standing committee;

"Judiciary" means judges and magistrates;

"Justice System" means Judges and Magistrates; "Lawyers" mean judges, magistrates, advocates, attorneys, legal advisers, legal administration officers and paralegals "Legal career" means "Officer" means an office bearer;

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"Sub-Sector" means a key segment of the legal sector, for example, judiciary, advocates, paralegals, etc SECTION 2: NAME

The name of the organisation is the South African Women in Law Association

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association are to:

3.1 Provide a forum for cooperation and networking among women the legal careers.

3.2 Facilitate the full participation of women lawyers in policy dialogues in South Africa particularly those relating to constitutionalism, the transformation of the legal system, women empowerment and the achievement of gender equality in the justice system;

3.3 Ensure that the collective voice of women lawyers is felt in national transformation dialogues, including the legal services charter dialogue, thus ensuring that policy dialogues take into account women's perspectives and respond equally to the needs of women and men lawyers;

3.4 Provide an advocacy forum dedicated to improving the status and conditions of women lawyers;

3.5 Promote and enhance women's full participation in the development of the law and justice for all;

3.6 Promote gender balanced participation in all aspects of the legal system, including the judiciary;

3.7 Provide a platform for advocacy for gender equity in employment, state briefings and other state contracts;

3.8 Provide space for information sharing and mutual support amongst women lawyers, including opportunities for young lawyers to interface with experienced lawyers.

3.9 Encourage qualitative and quantitative growth for women lawyers through resources and capacity building measures such as leadership and professional development;

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3.10 Promote visibility of women lawyers and help them to find their voice;

3.11 Assess progress made by the profession and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in putting gender issues in the mainstream;

3.12 Provide a platform for monitoring gender transformation in the legal sector.

3.13 Co-operate with women lawyers internationally, and participate in appropriate international forums that foster cooperation amongst women lawyers.

3.14 Encourage cooperation and collaboration between women lawyers;

3.15 Contribute towards the promotion of human rights and equality, the enhancement of the administration of justice for the benefit of all including access to justice, with particular focus on issues concerning children, women and other vulnerable groups in South Africa;

3.16 Assist women to participate meaningfully in the justice system in South Africa and to assist in the provision of public legal education and information programmes;

3.17 Eradicate the barriers which interfere with the full participation by women in the legal sector in order to promote and support the advancement of women at all levels so that the sector reflects the demographics of the society it serves;

SECTION 4: JURISTIC PERSONALITY

The Association is a juristic person, which is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation with its domicilium at:

Gender Directorate Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Momentum Building, Corner Pretorius and Prinsloo Streets, Pretoria

All process and legal documents shall be accepted at the above address.

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