Roadmap to Equality, Issue 16, May 2011
Date: May 20, 2011
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Welcome to the 16th edition of Roadmap to Equality! tracking progress toward the implementation and ratification of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. In South Africa the countdown to the local government elections on 18 May is heating up, with all political leaders calling for people to come out in their numbers and exercise their democratic right to vote. Party lists have been finalised and it is disappointing to note that there is no province that has more than 40% women candidates. These are the last elections in South Africa before 2015, the deadline in the SADC Gender Protocol for gender parity in decision-making.
The second annual Gender Justice and Local Government Summit convened by Gender Links under the banner, “365 Days of local action to end gender violence: Halve gender violence by 2015”, ended with a call on SADC government to increase women’s representation and fight gender-based violence…. 
The second annual Gender Justice and Local Government Summit and Awards, convened by Gender Links, were held in Johannesburg from 28-30 March 2011. The Summit, among other objectives, provided a platform to debate on local government approaches to preventing gender violence in local communities; affirmed the progress made through the first Local Government Summit and Awards that attracted over 100 entries from across the SADC region; provided opportunity for local government practitioners and stakeholder to develop strategic partnerships and networking opportunities…. 
The Alliance Steering Committee convened a caucus meeting parallel to the second Gender Justice and Local Government Summit, held in Johannesburg, 28-30 March. Regional cluster leaders of the Alliance Steering Committee were also serving as judges during the Summit. The outputs of the meeting included report back on activities convened by cluster leaders since January this year; … 
As agreed at the March Alliance Steering Committee caucus meeting, national focal points are busy organising reference group meetings for in-country alliance networks. The outcome of the meetings is for civil society to engage on the targets of the SADC Gender Protocol, then deliberate and score their governments on how they are implementing the provisions of the Protocol nationally…. 
The Women’s movement in Zambia in March rejected the country’s draft constitution noting that it was devoid of women’s rights issues as outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and the AU Protocol on Women’s Rights in Africa. … 
Despite being a signatory to the SADC Gender Protocol that calls for gender parity in all areas of decision-making by 2015, an analysis of party lists by Gender Links shows that there is no province that has more than 40% women candidates. … 
President Rupiah Banda is working toward disproving the adage that a “woman’s place is in the kitchen” because of numerous recent appointments of women to higher positions, many traditionally regarded as positions for men…. 
For 12 years now, the women around Tsangano in Malawi’s southern district of Ntcheu have put together their tomato harvest, selling some 20 tons at the outdoor markets that abound in Lilongwe, the capital. But they have very little to show for their hard work…. 
As the region moves towards halving gender based violence by 2015, reports on the ground tell a different story. Gender based violence continues to take gruesome turns and twists – child prostitution, human trafficking, passion crimes, hate crimes, the list is endless. In protest to hate crimes Gender Links recently joined the City of Ekurhuleni, church leaders, political parties, LGBTI groups and the community of Kwa-Thema at a day of prayer to support the family of Noxolo Nongwazi, a lesbian who was brutally raped and murdered last month. … 
The Africa Common Position on Universal Access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and services which serves as a unified voice for the continent is important given that Africa is the continent with the highest burden of the disease, said the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Social Affairs, Bience Gawanas, at a recent press conference…. 
La directrice de « Gender Links » et présidente de « Media Watch » ne reste pas insensible Á la réplique « to enn fam » lancée par Showkutally Soodhun Á l’égard de Rajesh Bhagwan Á l’Assemblée nationale, mardi. Elle condamne ces propos et s’interroge sur le comportement du ministre vis-Á -vis des femmes et, surtout, ce qu’il pense d’elles…. 
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoz), serving as the Zimbabwe Alliance National Focal point, and the Institute of Security Studies – lead organisation of the Gender, Peace and Security cluster, convened a ground breaking meeting aimed at empowering women in the security sector at the end of February 2011. … 
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