SADC Protocol

By: Graça Maria– Maputo: 27th August 2019: Decorre desde ontem em Maputo, a VI Cimeira Nacional de Boas Práticas sobre a Implementação do Protocolo da SADC sobre Gênero e Desenvolvimento […]

Por: Graça Maria- Maputo, 14th August 2019- A Gender Links Moçambique realizou hoje, dia 14 de Agosto, um workshop de reflexão sobre o Protocolo da SADC Sobre Género e Desenvolvimento […]

By Graça Maria; Maputo, 04 July 2018: William Mujovo – Representative of Diakonia Diakonia has provided training and support to national partners engaged in activities aimed at eradicating gender-based violence […]

Following the success of the local elections in Mauritius, the big question in Mauritius is whether special measures will be extended to national elections in 2015. In 2014, Prime Minister, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam unveiled a draft paper on “Modernising the Electoral System” including its implications for gender equality, and invited comments from the public.

On the 25 February 2014, the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court acquitted renowned Zambian human rights and HIV activist, Paul Kasonkomona, on charges relating to comments he made on television in support of Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) rights.
In April 2013, Kasonkomona was arrested after he appeared on a Muvi TV programme where he spoke about the need to recognise the rights of vulnerable groups such as LGBTI individuals and sex workers in order to comprehensively address the HIV pandemic

Chobe District Council was recently allocated 600 plots. A total of 4000 applicants applied and qualified for land allocation. The Chobe District Council developed resolutions to control the transfers of land, prioritising allocations to women who had lost their spouses or had lost their inheritance due to customary practices.

This report concerns the Gender Justice and Local Government programme for Gender Links Zambia from August 2012 to March 2013.

On behalf of my colleagues in the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance, I feel very privileged and honoured to stand before you today and deliver this speech. The gender sector in our region is unique in the extent to which it has opened the door to civil society participation. Together with our Governments, we campaigned for a SADC Protocol on Gender and Development with 28 targets to be achieved by 2015. With two years to go until this deadline, also the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals, we have changed our slogan from “yes we can” to “yes we must”!

We wish to thank SADC and UNWOMEN for enabling us to make our voice heard at this strategic gathering. We want to assure our governments that we are your firm partners and allies in taking forward the gender agenda in our countries. You have been elected to deliver a better life to all our citizens – especially for women. We are the hands, feet, eyes and ears, hearts and heads, that can help deliver these visionary goals. We are not your competitors but rather an implementing arm of our Governments.

A radical mind shift. That’s what we need in South Africa is to shift gear from the slow, incremental changes in the numbers of women at executive levels to a dramatic increase in the way we perceive, promote and protect women in corporate South Africa.

Description: The ‘inflation qualification’ is a new social phenomenon in Mauritius, as claimed by Dr Chandan Jankee, Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Mauritius. University graduates dedicate much time and spend several thousand rupees, and sometimes millions of rupees on their tertiary studies. Their main goal is to secure a good job with a good salary. But the reality of the job market does not meet their aims- the latest Pay Research Bureau (PRB) proves it. Consequently, many graduates are deeply disappointed when they enter the job market as most of the time they do not get their dream job or if they do, the salary is not enough to cover their studies costs.

Headline: The headline delves directly in the subject matter as the whole article talks about the ‘unfair salary of graduates who are in the public service sector.’ It will attract the Mauritian reader as many qualified Government officers are offered a meagre salary as well as poor job conditions.

Sources: The reader gets the perspective of 3 experts- an economist, a lecturer and the president of the Government General Services union. All 3 sources used in this article are men.
But this subject matter concerns both men and women as women are now part of the labour market. According to statistics, more girls than boys attend university. But more men than women are into the high level jobs. Nothing was said about the gender dimension of graduates being unfairly paid. Usually men are given priority over women in top salary jobs.
The Economist, Dr Yousouf Ismael highlights that many graduates rather stay abroad where they will get a better salary and better job conditions, based on meritocracy. This statement is supported by Dr Chandan Jankee. But the perspective of a women expert would have been significant. A public sector officer’s comment on this matter would have given the reader a perspective of reality.
Further, a person from the ‘Scheme of service’ would have given the reader a better idea on how salaries are calculated depending on your level of qualifications. The experts talk about the grass being greener abroad and that is the reason why the graduates are not coming back to the country. Thus, the view of an expatriate would have been substantial here.

Visual images: The image present in the article is gender balanced in the sense that it shows 3 women coming from work, 2 policemen and a gentleman. The image does not correlate with the article as nothing is said on gender during the analysis. Further, emphasis is laid on newly graduates but on the picture there are no young working people.

Story angle and perspective: This article is of high importance as Mauritius is facing a slump in the motivation among the employees at the level of the Government. Women are employed in this sector but they were not given voice in the article. The reader doesn’t know the female perspective on the ‘inflation qualification’. Are women being sacrificed to give way to men in better paid jobs?
They talked about lecturers and teachers-only education sector. The public sector is huge and other employees might not affiliate themselves with this article. Government officers, police department and to name a few. According to the ‘Scheme of service,’ if a person with a Bachelor in Social Sciences applies for a job where the minimum qualification is the higher school certificate, he will still receive a salary based on the Higher School Certificate
In Mauritius, connections are given more importance than competences. Also major decisions are taken by the older generation, leaving the younger generation without a voice; they are unable to take part in decision making and bring innovation. The older generation comprise of mainly men who might have some stereotypes against women and young adults. Young people do not want to join in the public sector due to the lack of transparency in terms of promotion and meritocracy.

Training Exercises: Why are there more women than men in the tertiary sector but more men than women in the top salary jobs?
Is the Government being Gender-Sensitive while promoting officers in the top jobs?

Other training resources: The SADC Gender protocol. Article 15-19 (Productive resources, employment and economic employment) could be used as training material.

The passing of the new Local Government Act in 2011 may have opened a way for Mauritius to sign the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

Because of lobbying and advocacy around the then Local Government Bill and resultant constitutional amendment to allow for affirmative action as well as pressure from the Mauritius Alliance Network to sign

The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance is calling for examples/ case studies that demonstrate the application of provisions of the SADC Gender Protocol at country and regional level. These can be initiatives by government departments, civil society or the private sector. These will be featured in the 2012 Regional Gender Protocol Barometer.