Highlights

Zambia: Girls speak out at the First African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage

Zambia: Girls speak out at the First African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage

UN Women participated and actively contributed to the First African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage, being held in Lusaka, Zambia, from 24-27 November 2015.

December 17, 2015 Themes: Gender equality | Human Rights Programs: SADC Gender Protocol & Alliance

Malawi: Looking at rights through the eyes of a visually impaired person

Malawi: Looking at rights through the eyes of a visually impaired person

Last week the world and Malawi commemorated International Human Rights Day: a time, among others, to do some soul searching on the rights of people with disabilities.

I am visually impaired. In the early 1990s I enrolled with Montfort Demonstration School for both my pre-school and primary school education. During the pre-school age, I played with toys with my fellow kindergarteners. Getting initiated into braille writing and reading proved to be another joyous moment.

December 17, 2015 Themes: Disability Programs: SADC Gender Protocol & Alliance

Alliance finalist in the SAT Drivers of Change awards, Semi-finalist in One Africa Award.

Alliance finalist in the SAT Drivers of Change awards, Semi-finalist in One Africa Award.

The Alliance finished the year on high gear. This follows the programme being recognised as one of the programmes making a difference in the lives of African citizens. In October the Alliance was awarded a finalist Drivers of Change award based on the work around the SADC Gender Protocol. This November One Africa announced the Alliance as semi-finalist on the continental award. A total of 254 applications poured in from 33 different countries across the continent for this award.

SADC Protocol on Gender, Development Review Starts

SADC Protocol on Gender, Development Review Starts

The process towards the review of the protocol has been initiated following a regional meeting held in South Africa, from 26-28 October. The meeting’s objective was to revise the protocol targets and align text with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

16 Days of Activism campaign kicks off

16 Days of Activism campaign kicks off

Despite the significant strides made in the SADC region to respond to gender violence, it remains one of the most flagrant violations of human rights and impediments to equality between women and men in Southern Africa.

SADC Gender Unit, Alliance and UN women collaborate on the SADC Gender Protocol-Post 2015

SADC Gender Unit, Alliance and UN women collaborate on the SADC Gender Protocol-Post 2015

The Alliance welcomes the opportunity to be part of the technical team for the review of the SADC Gender Protocol. This tripartite arrangement involves UN Women, the SADC Gender Unit and the SADC Member States.

The SADC Gender Protocol Alliance up for top award

The SADC Gender Protocol Alliance up for top award

The SADC Gender Protocol Alliance has been shortlisted for the Civil Society category of the 2015 Drivers of Change Award. Drivers of Change Awards recognise individuals and organisations from across southern Africa that are making a real impact in developing effective public policies and strategies to overcome poverty.

Alliance meetings held in Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia

Alliance meetings held in Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia

During the month of October, Alliance networks in Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia held validation workshops of their respective 2014 Country SADC Gender Protocol Barometers. The meetings that brought together civil society, government and academics also provided a platform for further engagements on the SADC Gender Alliance proposed targets and indicators for the post-2015 agenda.

October 30, 2014 Themes: Gender equality Programs: SADC Gender Protocol & Alliance

New Constitution moves Tanzania closer to gender parity

New Constitution moves Tanzania closer to gender parity

There is jubilation among women in different regions, seeing that the Draft Constitution includes a section that gives women the power to own and inherit land, just like their male counterparts.

International civil society week 2014

International civil society week 2014

To celebrate South Africa’s 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy, CIVICUS and its partners will gather change makers from around the world at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg for International Civil Society Week from 19-25 November 2014.

October 30, 2014 Themes: Gender equality Programs: SADC Gender Protocol & Alliance

End violence, empower women!

End violence, empower women!

Every year the United Nations declares the period from the 25 November, International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, to the 10 December, International Human Rights Day, as the 16 days of no violence against women across the globe. Gender Links (GL) and partner organisations will implement the Sixteen Days of Activism 2014 under the banner Peace begins at home: End Violence! Empower Women!

October 30, 2014 Themes: Gender based violence Programs: SADC Gender Protocol & Alliance

Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe launch the 2014 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer

Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe launch the 2014 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer

The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance focal networks have launched the regional 2014 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer, to share its findings and to inspire commitment to gender equality and the Protocol before and beyond 2015. This year’s Barometer highlights the proposed targets and indicators for the post-2015 Protocol based on consultations held across the SADC region.