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Welcome to the 29th edition of the Roadmap to Equality! Tracking progress towards the implementation and ratification of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development is in full force after South Africa became ninth country to deposit their ratification instruments with the SADC in late November.
All SADC states, except Botswana and Mauritius that have not signed the Protocol, are obliged to work towards achieving the 28 targets in the Protocol. The 13 SADC countries that have adopted the Protocol will to report on their progress every two years.
While we celebrate this achievement, recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remind us that instruments such as the Protocol must be implemented to prevent violence and guarantee women’s safety. The resurgence of violence in Goma following the occupation of the town by M23 rebels in November is a chilling reminder that we cannot take peace for granted.
The violence in the DRC is occurring against the backdrop of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women. The international theme for the 16 Days is From Peace in the Home, to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women. The reports of women being raped and attacked in the DRC highlights the importance of this year’s theme.
GL is currently conducting baseline GBV Indicators research to establish the prevalence and attitudes towards GBV. The statistics coming out of the research are sobering, it points to another to the “war at home”. At least one in four women (Mauritius) and two in three women (Botswana) report experiencing GBV at some time in their life.
In Gauteng, the figure is one in every two women. Headline results from three other provinces (Western Cape, Limpopo and Kwa Zulu Natal) in South Africa and Zimbabwe are equally alarming.Men corroborate these findings, sometimes even more strongly than what women report experiencing. Click here to read more about the GBV Indicators research. Click here to read Chapter 5 on GBV of the SADC Gender Protocol Barometer.
Political will is key if there are going to be systemic changes to the prevalence rates. This requires the allocation of adequate human, technical and financial resources coupled with training for service providers. Despite GBV being the most flagrant violation of human rights in the region, political leaders in the three countries refer to GBV sporadically in their speeches (6% to 15% of the time).
As the Sixteen Days of Activism kicks off, the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance calls on all sectors, especially government authorities at all levels, faith communities and the private sector to redouble their efforts to end the war at home. Click here to read the Alliance Sixteen Days press release.
On the 10th of December, Human Rights Day and the final day of the Sixteen Days of Activism, Â a cyber-dialogue will bring together development partners from around the globe to chat with NGOs mainly from the global South to deliberate on the post-2015 development framework that is set to succeed the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015. GBV must feature high on the post 2015 agenda.
Till next time!
Loveness Jambaya Nyakujarah
Sustaining the Movement: Feminist Fundraising in Uncertain Times. #FeministFunding #HumanRights
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 5, 2025
đ Link to register: https://t.co/FAI4SdgDhg pic.twitter.com/AcY1BKDTCL
đŁAppel Ă candidatures !
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 4, 2025
Le #MarangFund est dĂŠsormais ouvert !#Botswana #Lesotho #Maurice #Madagascar #Namibie
Subventions jusqu'à 50 000⏠disponibles pour soutenir des initiatives LGBTIQ.
Date de clĂ´ture: 30 juin 2025.https://t.co/uuoUTibOh6 pic.twitter.com/I5aH7NRLhg
Call for Applications!
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 4, 2025
The #MarangFund is now open! Grants up to âŹ50,000 available to support LGBTIQ-led initiatives in #Botswana #Lesotho #Mauritius #Madagascar #Namibia.
Deadline: 30 June 2025.
Information & Apply: https://t.co/uuoUTibOh6 pic.twitter.com/uWqJc1cPLK
Empowering women, youths & men in @karibamunicipal. Today, Gender Links is supporting entrepreneurs to run successful pay toilet services & market hub through business skills training, market access & financial inclusion. Let us build a thriving local economy. @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/1t6PImGafw
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 4, 2025
âł Closing soon!
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) June 3, 2025
REMINDER: Weâre seeking a top-tier WordPress dev & designer to rebuild a visually striking, user-first Gender Links website.
đď¸ Closing date: 6 June 2025
đ https://t.co/bxYY7vN3VB
@GenderLinks is empowering communities through inclusive local economic development. Today's workshop in @MurewaRdc brought together women, youths & men from the waste management value chain to discuss growth strategies and market access. @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/ZjH8Q9WOiH
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 30, 2025
Day 2 of @GenderLinks workshop in @nortontown is all about empowering local economies. The Fish Farming project is bringing women, men & youths together to drive growth through the Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee. #LocalEconomy @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/s4aFZ81GVo
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 28, 2025
đŁCall for Expressions of Interest!
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 27, 2025
Weâre seeking a WordPress web design & developer, with expertise to rebuild user-friendly, visually compelling and well-organised Gender Links websites.
Deadline: 6 June 2025
Info & submissionđhttps://t.co/bxYY7vN3VB pic.twitter.com/fed7GfyMFl
Gender Links empowers the @nortontown community through aquaculture capacity building. Today, we are strengthening the Norton Fish Farming Cooperative, supporting women, youths, and men in the aquaculture value chain. #localdevelopment @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/27F314RdfP
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 27, 2025
Gender Links empowers the @nortontown community through aquaculture capacity building. Today, we are strengthening the Norton Fish Farming Cooperative, supporting women, youths, and men in the aquaculture value chain. #localdevelopment @MoLGPWZim SUPPORTED BY: @SwedeninZW pic.twitter.com/27F314RdfP
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) May 27, 2025
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