Webinar: Sub-national governance and the plight of women working in public spaces [26 November 2024]

Across the world and in Africa, women make up the majority of workers in the informal economy – mostly because of limited education, high levels of unemployment, inequality and poverty. Despite their significant contribution to socio-economic development, they are not always acknowledged as workers with rights. Instead, the unregulated nature of the informal economy results in limited social protections and few incentives offered by governments. A large proportion of women active in the informal economy perform income-earning activities in public spaces such as selling goods in market places, taxi ranks and sidewalks.

It is a general observation that local governments do not always thoroughly consider the variety of challenges faced by women working in public spaces. On the one hand, they often find themselves striking a balance between survival and family responsibilities, and on the other hand, they are confronted with challenges due to the failure of local governments to provide basic services, such as ablution and storage facilities, and the maintenance of infrastructure. Moreover, women public space workers are hardly consulted in the policy and law-making process impacting them, resulting in further marginalisation. Indeed, it is often the reality that women public space workers are exposed to criminalisation, the confiscation of goods, as well as harsh and abusive law enforcement with harassment and extortion being commonplace.

In July 2024 the Dullah Omar Institute, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Africa Office and the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists hosted a series of workshops in South Africa, Ghana and Kenya as part of a project on ‘Sub-national governance and the plight of women working in public spaces - challenges and principles to improve policy and law-making'. We cordially invite you to the official launch of the findings of this research project with the aim to discuss the challenges women experience and address recommendations for improvement by local authorities.

Panelists:

• Janelle Mangwanda (DOI)
• Esther Ahulu (CHRI-Africa)
• Mondekazi Ntshele (ICJ-Kenya)
• Representatives from the women working in public spaces who participated in the workshops

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Following registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

We would like to acknowledge the Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status for making this webinar possible.