Ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States, responsible for gender and women affairs, will on Friday converge in Lilongwe, Malawi, to review progress on the implementation of gender and development programmes in the region.

The Ministers will track progress made in the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development through the review of 2022 SADC Gender and Development Monitor on Women in Politics and Decision-making, focusing specifically on Article 12 on Representation, Article 13 on Participation, and Article 5 on Special Measures of the Protocol.

As part of implementing the SADC Regional Multi-dimensional Women Economic Empowerment Programme (RMD-WEEP) 2020-2030, the Ministers will review progress on the SADC Industrialisation and Women's Economic Empowerment Project (IWEE Project), which is aimed at increasing women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurs’ participation in value addition for selected sectors and regional value chains (RVCs).

In addition, the Ministers will review the implementation of the SADC Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing Gender-based Violence (GBV), including through the assessment of the status of GBV in the SADC Region.

Malawi Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Minister, Patricia Kaliati, will, in her capacity as SADC Ministers Responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs Chairperson, chair the meeting.

Source: South African Government News Agency