Regional: Summit affirms good practices of the SADC Gender Protocol at work at local level

“Local Government is one efficient mechanism and structure that can facilitate implementation and ensure that the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development signed and adopted by the SADC Heads of State and government in August 2008 is a reality in the lives of the citizens of this region especially at community level”. The Head of the SADC Secretariat’s Gender Unit Magdeline Madibela made these remarks in her keynote address at the award ceremony of the just ended third Local Government and Gender Justice Summit and Awards.

All 110 entries, which constituted of 82 by women, 28 by men in 10 categories referred to how they have been using the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development in their work. This provided a wealth of evidence of how if all sectors of society come together progress will be made towards meeting the 28 targets set in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. Thematic areas featured included prevention, leadership, response, support, HIV/AIDS and care work, Local Economic Development, youth leadership governance climate change and local government COEs.

The Summit closed in Johannesburg on 25 April 2012 with awards to women and men whose work on the ground won the highest accolades from judges and participants during sessions held.

The awards are used by Gender Links to affirm the work of local government stakeholders including councillors, community based organisations, municipalities and councils. To view the list of winners, click here.

Submissions came from 10 countries including Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Winners were drawn from all ten.

Both winners and runner-upswere awarded laptops, video cameras and cameras that will help them in carrying forward their work and document evidence of the things that they are doing in their communities.

Under the theme “365 days of local action to end violence and empower women” the conference brought together local government authorities, municipalities, NGOs and representatives of ministries of gender and local government and journalists.