Welcome to another edition of the Roadmap to Equality! Tracking progress towards the implementation and ratification of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development

Welcome to another edition of the Roadmap to Equality! Tracking progress towards the implementation and ratification of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development


Date: September 1, 2016
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By Lucia Makamure

South Africa celebrated women’s month this August, marking 60 years since the historic march by 20 000 South African women protesting against the restrictive and inhumane Pass Laws under the apartheid government. Around the region, August is increasingly celebrated as women’s month. This is also the month in which SADC Heads of State have their summit. This year they adopted the Post 2015 SADC Gender Protocol in Swaziland. They also postponed the summit until the end of August so that it coincided with the reed dance, the annual event at which the Swazi King chooses yet another wife. Sadly, the irony of these two events taking place side by side seemed lost on the delegates to the summit.

The 2016 Barometer launched at the civil society forum ahead of the HOS shows that there has been a lot of progress with women beginning to claim their space in the political, social and economic spheres.

On the other hand recent two unrelated events in Zimbabwe and South Africa serve as reminders of how far we still have to go in order to achieve gender equality. On 26 August a picture of an elderly unarmed woman lying down being assaulted by riot police in Zimbabwe went viral, drawing worldwide condemnation. The incident provides a glimpse into the daily realities of many women in the region subjected to gender based violence.

In South Africa learners at Pretoria High School for Girls made headlines demanding an end to racist practices at the learning institution after girls attending the school were forced to straighten their hair. This incident comes barely a few weeks after four young women held a silent protest in support of Kwezi (the woman who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape) during the President’s speech at the local government election results centre

It is against this background that the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance launched the 8th edition of the SADC Gender Protocol Barometer at the 12th Civil Society Forum convened by the SADC Council of NGOs (SADC CNGO) held in Ezulwini ahead of the SADC Council of Ministers and SADC Heads of State (HOS) Summit. A highlight of the Barometer is the first Southern Africa Gender attitude Survey that goes a long way in explaining the gap between the rhetoric and reality of gender equality in the region.

Results from the McKinsey & Company Women Matter Africa report makes a strong case for the underrepresentation of women in executive positions in both the private and public sectors. Our article on the pay gender gap provides insights into the situation of many women at the workplace. Watch this space for more blogs on the findings of the Barometer!

Till next time!


Author: Lucia Makamure