SADCs gender policy commended

Addressing hundreds of activists who gathered at the Italian Club last week in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day hosted by Gender Links, Litha Musyimi-Ogana, the African Union’s Director of Women and Gender, paid tribute to the region’s leaders for taking a bold step towards the realization of gender equity and equality.

“The African Union is a body that subscribes to the values of gender parity, and the principles of gender equality that seek to ensure equal representation of both men and women in all spheres of life. This region has performed better than any other African region as a result of the Protocol on Gender and Development that has been ratified by the State parties,” she said.

With 28 substantive targets for achieving gender equality by 2015, this initiative is a global first and places SADC at the cutting edge of innovative strategies for giving global and continental commitments meaning at sub-regional level.

Musyimi-Ogana said the rest of the continent could benefit immensely from emulating the example set by the SADC nations which have sworn that they shall endeavour to enshrine gender equality and equity in their constitutions and ensure that these rights are not compromised by any provisions, laws or practises.

The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, which was adopted on August 17, 2008, encompasses the commitments made in regional, global and continental instruments for achieving gender equality.

The State parties have also committed themselves to enhancing these instruments by addressing gaps and setting specific, measurable targets where these do not exist. Musyimi-Ogana noted that the Protocols were legally binding instruments that demonstrated the political will and commitment of the SADC leadership.

“What is especially gratifying is that this SADC Protocol includes benchmarks and measurable targets, providing clear indicators to hold governments accountable to the measures outlined,” she said.

Affirming women and men in all their diversity and creating an enabling environment for everyone to reach their full potential is at the heart of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.