Roadmap to Equality, 12 September 2014
Date: September 14, 2014
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Welcome to the September 2014 edition of the Roadmap to Equality! Tracking progress towards the implementation and ratification of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. The month of August marked important milestones for gender equality in the SADC region but also made louder the steps towards 2015, the year by which the SADC region should meet the targets of the SADC Gender Protocol. Celebrating women’s month in South Africa projected green lights for achievements in the education sector, HIV/AIDS and review of Constitutions by 11 countries in the region as reflected in the 2014 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer- launched in Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Swaziland and South Africa. However, red lights flash when it comes to gender and governance, health, media and climate change. The lack of improvement in these areas hinders progress toward equality in the region, hence the need to accelerate efforts post-2015 through ‘smart’ targets and indicators. … 
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. … 
Namibia’s ruling party, South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) has in its manifesto committed equal gender representation. Late last month, the party unveiled a party list based on a zebra style, 50/50 gender representation. The move is in line with SADC Gender Protocol provisions 12-13 that call for 50% representation of women in decision-making positions in all public and private sectors. … 
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Archbishop, Desmond Tutu and Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau in the Netherlands will visit Zambia this month to learn about the country’s best practices in combating child, early and forced marriage…. 
An unprecedented 17,000 participants and 30,000 activists streamed into Beijing for the opening of the Fourth World Conference on Women in September 1995. They were remarkably diverse, coming from around the globe, but they had a single purpose in mind: gender equality and the empowerment of all women, everywhere…. 
Gender activists have called for the government of Mozambique to improve the penal code to ensure the protection of women and girls from violence and discrimination; punish perpetrators of violence against women and girls; and guarantee women and girls have access to justice. This came after Parliament approved the draft Penal Code in July, which is now awaiting the President’s approval. Activists consider the current draft detrimental to the achievement of gender equality in Mozambique…. 
In 2008, SADC member states broke new ground by adopting the one-stop-shop of gender equality- the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. When the Protocol came into force in 2012, it was clear that gender equality in the region required political commitment, resources, monitoring and evaluation. Since the Protocol covers all ground to address gender equality gaps, many regions of the world have emulated it. As the SADC region continues to pat itself on the back for this trademark, in-house clean-up, it is crucial that beyond 2015, the region takes responsibility of raising the bar once again in pushing the envelope on gender equality…. 
In August, Mozambique became the latest country in the region to align its National Policy and Strategy with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. This followed a workshop that brought together focal points of different ministries and their respective planners, members of the Alliance and Gender Links. … 
There is a confident swag in the way a South African woman walks through the office. She is used to being treated as an equal in recent years. Men do not routinely talk over her and her opinion matters. For decades South Africa has worked towards achieving gender parity and signs of female empowerment can be seen all over the country: August 9th – a national holiday dedicated to South African women; the “Wonder Women” project to create a life size steel statues of iconic South African women; and the “Top Women” publication celebrating organisations that excel in gender empowerment. These are just a few examples. … 
The Norwegian Church Aid Policy Office for Southern Africa (NCA) in collaboration with the Fellowship of Councils of Churches in Southern Africa – Health Justice Network (FOCCISA-HJN), held the first of a series of country launches of the gender toolkit – Created in God’s image: A gender transformation toolkit for women and men in churches…. 
The World Council of Churches (WCC) will this September hold an interfaith summit on climate change in New York. Organised together with Religions for Peace, more than 30 religious leaders will take a united stand to encourage political leaders to address the causes and consequences of climate change. The interfaith summit is being held immediately before the United Nations (UN) Climate Summit, which aims to galvanise action for climate justice, by reducing emissions and mobilising political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015. … 
The Southern African Broadcasters Association (SABA) is the latest media organisation to embrace gender mainstreaming as an integral part of public broadcasting. This was seen in the outcomes of the Annual General Meeting and Digital Conference held in Swaziland last month from 27 to 28 August. … 
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…. 
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