REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA progress regarding compliance with international treaties on women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality to which South Africa is a party. 48. Following the 2014 elections, Parliament established the Portfolio Committee on Women in the Presidency which oversees the progress of Government on its gender agenda as implemented in the previous mechanisms. There is also a Parliamentary Select Committee on Women in the Presidency as well as a Multi-Party Women’s Caucus in Parliament which also work to promote the rights of women in the country. At the provincial level, monitoring of women’s rights and empowerment is carried out by various Parliamentary Select Committees in the different provincial legislatures. 49. The Commission on Gender Equality is envisaged under the Constitution as one of the state institutions that strengthen constitutional democracy in South Africa. In terms of section 187 of the Constitution, the Commission is mandated to (a) promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development, attainment of gender equality and (b) to monitor, investigate, research, educate, lobby and report on issues concerning gender equality. Its composition, powers and functions are provided under the Commission on Gender Equality Act, 1996.290 50. Since its inception in 1997, it has been working towards achieving a South African society that is free from gender oppression and all forms of inequality. In this regard, it receives complaints, monitors gender equality issues, undertakes research and public education, engages in policy development and legislative initiatives, and it also engages in litigation. The Commission has formulated the Framework for Transforming Gender Relations, which although intended particularly for policy-makers and trainers, seeks to educate the general public on gender equality. 51. The SAHRC is another state institution that is aimed at entrenching constitutional democracy in South Africa. Its constitutional mandate is three-fold: to promote respect for human rights and a culture of human rights, to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights, and to monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the country. The operation of the Commission is provided for under the Human Rights Commission Act, 1994.291 52. The Commission has established the Equality Unit, which is committed to the achievement of social justice through the promotion of human rights and in particular the right to equality as enunciated in section 9 of the Constitution. Each year the SAHRC publishes its Equality Report in line with section 25(2) of the Human Rights Commission Act. Budget for Women 53. Since the advent of constitutional democracy, South Africa has implemented various measures that seek to ensure financing for women’s empowerment at all levels of government. This has entailed the integration of gender considerations in the preparation and implementation of the national and other budgets to become responsive to the needs of women. The process also seeks 290 291 Act No. 39 of 1996 Act No. 54 of 1994 150