South Africa: SADC Gender Protocol to come into full force soon

The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development will soon come into full force after South Africa became the ninth country to ratify the instrument on August 31 this year, according to the Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Minister Lulu Xingwana. In her report to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children, Youth and People with Disabilities (National Assembly) on 14 September, she stated that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is yet to deposit the instruments to SADC.

Article 41 of the SADC Gender Protocol requires that a two thirds majority should ratify and deposit their Instruments of Ratification. Table 1 below gives a summary of countries that have signed, ratified and deposited their instruments.

Summary of SADC countries signing, ratification and deposited instruments status  

Thirteen countries have signed (excluding Botswana and Mauritius) Nine have ratified and seven countries have deposited their instruments of ratification.
Click here to view the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development: Ratification toolkit