The SADC Protocol @ work

SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Augusto Salomão: “We must continue to strive to ensure that all SADC Member States sign and ratify the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. It would be sad indeed if the momentum is slowed down by legal technicalities.”

SADC Gender Unit: Translating commitments into action…
Head of SADC Gender Unit Magdeline Madibela: “The SADC Gender Unit has developed a Regional Monitoring Tool that is being used by all Member States to update on progress made towards the achievement of the 28 targets as outlined in the Gender Protocol. Member States are this year expected to submit their first progress reports since the signing of the Gender Protocol in 2008.”

Peace and security
The SADC Secretariat will convene a regional meeting in January 2011 focusing on Peace and Security within the SADC region. Governments will deliberate on sustainable ways to ensure peace and security in SADC.

Gender-based violence
The head of the SADC Gender Unit (SADC GU), Magdelene Madibela, has shared with enthusiasm that the European Union has made funds available to the SADC GU to undertake a regional study on gender-based violence which will find out where the region stands on this front, and what preventive mechanisms can be put in place. This is a huge project for the Gender Unit, and they will be exploring possible partnerships in undertaking this project.

Governance: Zimbabwe
Secretary to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Silvia Utete-Masango: “The Constitution-making process has been inclusive allowing women to fully participate and bring out their issues especially 50/50 representation in all positions of leadership.”

Health, HIV and AIDS: Mauritius
Attorney General Yatin Varma: “In 2008, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam launched a book published by Gender Links, Speaking on HIV and AIDS, where HIV positive women, men and couples told their stories. This book has not only helped HIV positive Mauritians to talk about their experiences and the stigmatisation faced, but the book is also being used by ministries, local authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders as an awareness campaign on HIV and AIDS.”

Economic justice: Mauritius
The National Women Entrepreneur Council (NWEC) was set up in 1999 to promote the development of Women Entrepreneurship. A range of measures have been taken in the budgets since 2005, by the National Women Entrepreneur Council and The Small Enterprises & Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA) putting in place concrete measures to enable women to set up and run their own business.