The Southern African Gender Justice Barometer

The Southern African Gender Justice Barometer: Audit of the Addendum to the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development for the Eradication of Violence against Women and Children is one of the first major activist research projects undertaken by the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network.
The Southern African Gender Justice Barometer: Audit of the Addendum to the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development for the Eradication of Violence against Women and Children
Edited by Colleen Lowe Morna and Janine Moolman

The Southern African Gender Justice Barometer: Audit of the Addendum to the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development for the Eradication of Violence against Women and Children is one of the first major activist research projects undertaken by the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network.

This publication presents the findings of an audit undertaken in twelve countries of measure taken by governments in the SADC region in response to their regional obligations in terms of the Addendum. It found that while gender violence in now firmly on the political agenda in Southern Africa, laws, services and resources to address this scourge are patchy, and the link between gender violence and HIV/AIDS is not being adequately addressed. Attention to new threats like sex trafficking is growing, but is barely acknowledged in policies and laws.

The laws and law reform processes introduced over the last eight years since the passing of the Addendum have sparked vigorous debates in the parliaments of the region, playing an important role in taking gender violence out of the private and into the public sphere. But, as the audit shows, it takes more than good laws to end gender violence.

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(available online only)