Join the Alliance campaign on gender and climate justice in SADC

Petition
If you want your government to adopt the principle of an Addendum or amendments to the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, please sign the petition   that will be circulated during the COP 17 and 16 Days campaign period. Alliance focal points will hand in the petition to your respective governments at the end of January 2012.

The Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance has mounted a gender and climate change campaign that has been given impetus by the seventeenth United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 17) taking place in the Southern Africa from 28 November to 9 December 2011. The launch of the campaign coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against gender violence campaign (25 November – 10 December). Read more about Gender Links, African Child and Feature Service work with journalists and robust debates linked to COP 17 and 16 Days Campaign.

The Alliance is using the opportunity to begin to apply pressure on SADC governments to come up with a holistic policy framework to guide the region’s approach to gender and climate justice issues beyond COP 17.

Gender Links coordinates the Alliance, a network of networks that is organised in thematic clusters and national focal points. Click here  to find out more about the Network clusters. The Alliance will soon form a theme cluster on gender and climate justice.

Campaign for an addendum to the Gender Protocol gains momentum
Gender activists argue that whilst climate change can be read into the existing articles of the SADC Gender Protocol particularly Articles 15 – 19 on Economy, Productive Resources and Employment, it is far too important to be left to chance.COP 17 provides an opportune moment to find ways of strengthening the sub-regional instrument either through an Addendum or through amendments to the Gender Protocol once it comes into full force.

The idea is gaining momentum after the Extra Ordinary Meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Gender/Women’s Affairs to prepare SADC response to Gender and Climate Change from 17 – 18 November 2011 put the issue firmly on the agenda. Read more on the Alliance’s involvement and key regional milestones in the build up to COP17.

The Alliance at COP 17

During COP 17, the Alliance will:
– Support a campaign by the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCISSA) and its partners on the theme: We Have Faith – act now for climate justice. Click here to sign the petition and find out more about the campaign.
– Hold a session on key provisions of the Gender Protocol and its implications for FBOs in partnership with FOCISSA.
– Sign an MOU with FOCISSA which has committed to take up the role of regional focal point for Faith Based Organisations will be signed at this occasion.
– Enlist the support for Faith Based Organisations to campaign for an addendum to the Protocol on Gender and Development. Click here to sign the petition.

Download : Campaign for an addendum to the Gender Protocol gains momentum