Ministers Responsible for Gender and Women's Affairs from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have urged Member States to develop effective and sustainable gender-based violence (GBV) prevention programmes.
The call came at the ministers’ meeting held recently in Lilongwe, Malawi, to review progress on the implementation of gender and development programmes in the region, as well as the revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
The Ministers expressed concern about the high prevalence of GBV in the region, and urged Member States to improve GBV data collection and implement the SADC Regional Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing GBV. The framework is part of efforts to achieve gender equality, and promote peace and security.
In her opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi and Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Nancy Tembo, commended Member States for seizing the unique opportunity to discuss policy issues and for gracing a platform to share insights, experiences and lessons.
“Gender equality is a critical component and contributing factor to SADC Member States and the region’s long-term development,” Tembo said.
Tembo advocated for equal recognition and creation of a favourable environment in which both men and women can continue to enjoy their full rights without any infringement or oppression, with equal employment opportunities, businesses, access to financial institutions, and representation in leadership positions.
During the meeting, the Ministers approved the SADC Gender and Development Monitor on Women in Politics and Decision-making for 2022, with emphasis on Articles 5, 12 and 13 of the Protocol on Representation, Participation, and Special Measures, which aim to achieve gender parity in political and decision-making roles.
The Ministers also approved the extension of the SADC Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security from 2022 to 2030 to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The strategy addresses the impact of conflict on women and the importance of women's full and equal participation in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction.
In implementing the SADC Regional Multi-dimensional Women Economic Empowerment Programme (RMD-WEEP) 2020-2030, the Ministers reviewed progress on the SADC Industrialisation and Women's Economic Empowerment Project (IWEE Project).
The project aims to increase women-owned businesses' and female entrepreneurs' participation in value addition for selected sectors and regional value chains (RVCs).
Revised Gender Mainstreaming Resource Kit approved
The Ministers also approved the Revised Gender Mainstreaming Resource Kit, which supports gender mainstreaming across several sectors.
The kit contains 10 sector-specific modules, which provide practical guidance on gender mainstreaming in regional integration priority sectors.
The Ministers urged Member States that have not yet signed and ratified the Revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development to do so to facilitate implementation of the protocol.
The Protocol aims to empower women, eliminate discrimination, and achieve gender equality by encouraging and harmonising gender responsive legislation, policies, programmes, and projects.
Malawi Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Minister, Dr Patricia Kaliati, underscored the region's determination to fully cultivate a robust approach embedded in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), which will see a meaningful change of gender agenda interwoven in many SADC programmes and projects.
Kaliati highlighted a number of barriers and situations preventing women and girls from achieving gender parity. She called for an accelerated implementation of regional protocols, strategies, policies and programmes to support women's efforts, by encouraging them to participate in growth and progress toward a better future.
Kaliati also called for the active promotion of effective GBV prevention initiatives, and highlighted physical and social misfortunes that befall women and girls, including defilement, rape, HIV/AIDS, and limited access to productive resources.
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice, commended Member States for their achievements and efforts in mainstreaming gender equality into key policy areas, and advocated for active promotion of the gender machinery through active participation of all institutional players in the public, private, and voluntary sectors.
The meeting was attended physically and virtually by Ministers or their representatives from 13 Member States, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Source: South African Government News Agency