Published by the government of Zimbabwe
20 August 2008
Harare — GENDER activists from the Sadc region have commended Heads of State for adopting the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development at the summit, which ended in South Africa last Sunday.
The activists noted that if implemented, the protocol stands to make a difference in the lives of most women in the region.
In a statement released by the Sadc Gender Protocol Alliance yesterday, the activists, however, called for a speedy and democratic resolution to current political negotiations in Zimbabwe, saying it would be difficult to implement provisions of the gender protocol unless an agreement is reached.
The recently adopted gender protocol contains 23 targets, which outline a clear roadmap for regional leaders to move towards gender equality.
Key targets in the protocol include ensuring that provisions for gender equality are contained in all constitutions and include affirmative action clauses such as halving gender violence, abolishing the legal minority status of women, and achieving 50 percent representation of women in decision-making positions by 2015.
The protocol also calls for the stepping-up of HIV and Aids prevention, treatment and support of the affected and infected, and increased access to post-exposure prophylaxis in the event of assault.
The protocol also contains a series of provisions relating to ensuring that women participate in land ownership, and trade and entrepreneurship, including equal access to state procurement opportunities.
"Our work begins just as soon as our leaders sign on the dotted line," said the activists.
However, the activists expressed concern over other key provisions that some member states have already recognised within national legal frameworks such as marital rape, cohabitation and other rights for vulnerable groups that have been excluded from the protocol.
The activists also complained that contradictions between customary and constitutional law are not explicitly addressed in the protocol.
To measure and monitor progress in member states, the protocol requires that governments report twice a year at the summit.
Governments should also launch public awareness campaigns demonstrating the linkage between equal representation and participation of women and men in decision-making positions.
The Zimbabwe Women Lawyers' Association and the Zimbabwe Women Resource Centre are some of the organisations representing the country in the Sadc Gender Protocol Alliance.
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