Luanda — The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) plans to fit 30 per cent of women into political and decision-making structures until 2005.

This was said Sunday by the co-ordinator of the regional sector on Gender, Christine Warioba, who added that South Africa and the Mauritius are the SADC countries with most percentage of women holding political posts. .

She said the Heads of States have signed a declaration on gender and development in September 1998 in Blantyre (Malawi), that exhorts member countries to eradicate violence against woman and children. .

The declaration also recommends the promotion of full access of women to productive resources and its control, with a view to reduce their level of poverty. .

The reformulation of legislations and constitutions, as well as changes in social behaviours that discriminate women are also contained in the document, she added.