SANF 21 no 34 – by Nyarai Kampilipili
Ministers responsible for gender and women affairs will this week meet to review progress on the implementation of regional programmes aimed at advancing gender equality and equity in southern Africa.
According to a draft agenda, the meeting to be held in a virtual format on 26 August will deliberate on a wide range of issues including the approval of the Draft Regional Gender Based Violence (GBV) Training Guidelines and progress towards the signing of the revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
The revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development provides for the empowerment of women, elimination of discrimination and attainment of gender equality and equity through enactment of gender-responsive legislation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects.
The protocol was revised to align with the provisions of other instruments such as those relating to the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063 and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.
Out of the 16 SADC Member States, only three — Malawi, Mauritius and South Africa — are yet to sign the agreement amending the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
However, Mauritius has indicated readiness to sign the agreement soon.
Mauritius had previously objected to the Protocol because of a clause on child marriage that conflicted with the country
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