Where is the money for gender-based violence work in SADC?

The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development calls on Member States to reduce by 50% current levels of gender based violence. It is therefore imperative for countries to put in place mechanisms to measure change brought about by implementing National Action Plans and establish baseline data so that States will be able to gauge whether they have reached this target.

Many SADC countries have adopted National Action Plans to End Gender Based Violence (GBV) but glaring gaps remain in their implementation. There seems to be neither effective monitoring and evaluation systems nor allocated budgets that accompany these plans. While the adoption of GBV action plans is in line with the UN Secretary General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign launched in 2008, it is also evident that more work needs to be done to popularise the campaign, which has become a global rallying point for addressing GBV.

These are some of the outcomes of a regional evaluative meeting of National Action Plans to end GBV. The meeting was convened by Gender Links with support from the UN Trust Fund held and held in Johannesburg from 16-17 February. Government representatives and lead GBV NGOs from at least 14 SADC countries attended.

The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development calls on Member States to reduce by 50% current levels of gender based violence. It is therefore imperative for countries to put in place mechanisms to measure change brought about by implementing National Action Plans and establish baseline data so that States will be able to gauge whether they have reached this target.

Governments should also commit substantive financial resources to ensure that committed actions can be realised. Without the money, these plans remain on paper. The Seychelles updated National Action Plan is a model that all countries could learn from. It has been costed and more than $US800 000 has been allocated towards its implementation: this shows commitment at a higher level.

The evaluative meeting culminated in those civil society organisations present forming a regional gender based violence cluster as part of strengthening the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance institutional mechanisms.