Challenges remain despite SADC decisions, says Gender Alliance

A DECISION by the just-ended SADC summit to endorse the African Union position on gender parity in all areas of decision-making has been welcomed by the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance.

However, the alliance expressed disappointment at the failure by Heads of State to seize the opportunity following this decision to appoint a woman to one of the two top positions in the SADC secretariat despite applications. Also, the summit’s final statement fails to mention the recommendation made by the Council of Ministers that the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development be elevated to a Protocol for Accelerating Gender Equality.The Alliance noted in a statement that the target of 30 per cent women in decision-making contained in the SADC Declaration has now been raised to 50 per cent.However no timeframe has been set for achieving this.At present only one out of the seven senior management positions in SADC is held by a woman.Vowing to continue the campaign for a binding sub-regional instrument on gender equality, the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance, which is comprised of 10 NGOs from around the region, said the outcome of the summit underscored the fact that “the struggle for gender equality is still far from over”.Also, the summit’s final statement fails to mention the recommendation made by the Council of Ministers that the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development be elevated to a Protocol for Accelerating Gender Equality.The Alliance noted in a statement that the target of 30 per cent women in decision-making contained in the SADC Declaration has now been raised to 50 per cent.However no timeframe has been set for achieving this.At present only one out of the seven senior management positions in SADC is held by a woman.Vowing to continue the campaign for a binding sub-regional instrument on gender equality, the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance, which is comprised of 10 NGOs from around the region, said the outcome of the summit underscored the fact that “the struggle for gender equality is still far from over”.