SOUTHERN
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
DRAFT
PROGRESS
REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SADC DECLARATION ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT
SADC Gender Unit
May 2007
Contents
Acronyms
2
1. Progress Report on the Implementation of the SADC
Declaration on
Gender and Development: Report of the SADC Gender
Programme 3
1.1 Introduction
and Contextual Background
3
1.2. Report of the SADC
Gender Programme
4
1.3 Report on Priority
Areas for the SADC Gender Programme
4
2. Progress Report on the Implementation of the
SADC Declaration on
Gender and Development: Member States Reports 11
2.1 General
Overview of Gender Developments and Trends in Member States 11
2.3 Measures Taken
in Compliance with 1997
SADC Declaration
on Gender and Development 12
2.4 Co-ordination and
Collaboration 53
2.5 General
Challenges 53
2.6 Conclusion
& Way Forward 56
Acronyms
ADB African Development Bank
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome
ARV Anti Retro Viral
AZT Azido Thymidine
CSO(s) Civil Society Organization (s)
DRC
FANR Food, Agriculture and Natural
Resources
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
I & S Infrastructure and Services
ICT Information Communications
Technologies
NGO(s) Non Governmental Organization (s)
PLWHA People Living With HIV and/or AIDS
PMTCT Prevention of Mother to Child
Transmission
RISDP Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan
RPTC Regional Peace-Keeping Training
Centre
SADC Southern African Development
Community
SARDC Southern African Research and
Documentation Centre
SHDSP Social Human Development and
Special Programmes
STI Sexually Transmitted
Infections
TIFI Trade, Industry, Finance and
Investment
UNECA United Nations Economic Commission
for
VCT Voluntary Counselling and
Testing
WIDSAA Women in Development Southern African
Awareness
1. Progress Report on the Implementation of the SADC
Declaration on
Gender and Development:
1.1.
Introduction and Contextual Background
This report gives an
overview of the progress made by the SADC Gender Programme and the
SADC Heads of States and
Governments committed themselves and their countries through the SADC
Declaration on Gender and Development signed in 1997, to ensure equal
representation of women and men in all political and decision-making
structures, at all levels. They
committed themselves to achieve at least 30 percent target of women
representation by the year 2005, a target that has since been elevated to 50%
by Ministers of Ministers in February 2005. Furthermore, in the following year,
1998, an Addendum on the Prevention and Eradication of Violence Against Women
and Children was signed. In response to
their commitments on these two pieces of legislation, Member States have put
measures in place to facilitate the implementation of this Declaration and
enhance the achievement of the set target.
Such measures range from policy and institutional development, societal
sensitization and empowerment, programme and project development, affirmative
action to abolition of discriminatory laws, amendments and enactment of new
laws. Similarly, significant progress
has been made to promote and increase women’s representation in political and
decision making structures at all levels.
The overall monitoring of
the progress is undertaken biannually through submissions of reports by Member
States on the status of women’s representation in political and decision-making
structures to the regular meetings of Council of Ministers and Summit of Heads
of State or Government. The discussions in these meetings on this particular
issue have enhanced Member States’ efforts to increase the number of women in
these structures. However, there are
still challenges in fully achieving the set target as displayed in the figures
given.
This account is intended
to provide a clear overview of the state of affairs in the SADC region, but is
unfortunately incomplete. On the
collection of data, it is worth noting that, there were some challenges
experienced. As indicated above, two member states, DRC and
1.2 Report of
the SADC Gender Programme
1.2.1. Introduction
The overall function of
the SADC Gender Programme is to facilitate the achievement of substantive
equality between women and men in the SADC
region through mainstreaming gender into all national and regional
policies, programs and activities and the adoption of positive measures to
accelerate progress in that regard. SADC
seeks to ensure that a gender perspective permeates the entire SADC Programme
of Action and Community Building Initiative. The priorities of the SADC Gender
Programmes as stipulated by the RISDP are:
1.2.2. Report on Priority Areas for the SADC Gender
Programmes
1.2.2.1. POLICY
DEVELOPMENT AND HARMONIZATION
1.2.2.1.1. SADC Regional
Gender Policy
The development of the SADC Regional Gender Policy was conceptualized as
part of the operationalization of the Plan of Action for Gender in SADC to
facilitate its implementation, coordination, and harmonization. It was also to
provide guidelines that may improve synergies between National and Regional
structures, mechanisms and programmes. The SADC Regional Gender Policy is
expected to become a guiding tool for mainstreaming gender in the SADC sector
specific policies, programmes and activities. SADC Member States are at
different levels in addressing gender equality and equity issues, with few
countries having no Gender Policies. The presence of a Regional Gender Policy
will assist SADC Member States to accelerate the development of National Gender
Policies where they are not in existence and also strengthen the implementation
of gender equality commitments.
Progress in the development of the SADC Regional Gender Policy so far
entail: A meeting of gender and policy development and analysis experts which
was held in October 2005 in
The next steps will include the process of developing the draft SADC
Regional Gender Policy with the support of a drafting policy expert using the
recommendations given by the Gender and Policy development and analysis
experts. This will be in preparation for the circulation of the initial draft
to the Members States for National Consultations. Following that a regional
workshop to discuss the draft policy and implementation plan will be convened.
The final stages of the process will entail forwarding the draft to statutory
bodies for adoption of the draft into a SADC Regional Gender Policy.
Currently the process of developing the Zero Draft Regional Gender
Policy has been completed and the draft has been discussed at a Regional
Consultative Meeting engaging SADC Member States, CSOs and international
cooperating partners.
The draft SADC Regional Gender Policy will be presented to Ministers
Responsible for Gender/Women’s Affairs at a meeting in June 2007 where it will
be finalised.
1.2.2.1.2
SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
From the outset, the crafters of the 1997 SADC Declaration on Gender and
Development envisaged that there may be a need to elevate this instrument to a
Protocol, the most binding of SADC instruments (Addendum section 26, pg
23). In addition, experience has shown
that while there has been progress in the region towards achieving gender
equality, this is inconsistent and new challenges that pose major gender
challenges such as HIV and AIDS, globalization and trafficking have emerged.
Moreover, a sub-regional protocol opens the unique possibility of
rationalizing and enhancing all existing commitments to gender equality, as
well as providing accountability and monitoring mechanisms. These mechanisms could include one standard
reporting framework for the region, at least one strategic agreed target and
indicator in the ten critical areas identified, and monitoring and evaluation
tools, including annual reports.
Council, August 2005, approved the draft Protocol on Gender and
Development. However,
In line with the Council 2005 decision, Secretariat has
since initiated concrete initial processes to enable the drafting of the SADC
Protocol on Gender and Development. The specific actions that have been taken
include among others:
· Establishment of a Regional Taskforce on the Protocol on
Gender and Development to spearhead the process and develop a strategy for
initiatives on the development of the draft gender protocol and stakeholders
consultations. The Taskforce for the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
constitutes three Member States representatives at Permanent Secretary/Director
levels from the Out-going Chair, In -coming Chair, and Current Chair (TROIKA),
two representatives of NGOs/CSOs, and one Inter-Governmental Organization. The
main responsibilities of the Taskforce are to provide technical support and
guidance to the process and engage in strategic advocacy and lobbying
activities. The Taskforce met for the first time on the 28- 29 March 2006. The
taskforce developed a clear road map with a timeframe for submission of the
draft protocol to summit of August 2007.
· Development of the drafting instructions and drafting of the
zero-zero draft: The drafting instructions were developed and unpacked into a
zero draft of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. According to the SADC procedure, such an
important legal documents must be reviewed by both legal and gender experts as
a way of finalizing and clearing it for
· Technical Round Table of Experts: As stated above, the process
endeavours to be as inclusive and participatory as possible, hence a technical
roundtable of legal and gender experts was organized on the 14-15 September 2006.
Experts engaged in technical discussions and made very useful inputs that
Secretariat incorporated into the draft in preparation for Member States
national consultations. The output of the Technical Roundtable is attached
(Zero Draft Gender Protocol).
· Ministers Responsible for Gender Meeting: In order to ensure that
all Member States were thoroughly involved in revisions of the Protocol, a
meeting of Ministers Responsible for Gender/Women’s Affairs was held November
2006. Member States thoroughly scrutinized
the draft SADC Protocol on Gender and Development in order to have it prepared
for regional consultations as set out in the Roadmap.
· SADC Stakeholders Consultative Conference: Held in Gaborone, Botswana, April, 2007, this meeting
of Member States, civil society and international cooperating partners
represented an important step in the roadmap toward finalising the SADC
Protocol on Gender and Development. Over
the course of the meeting stakeholders were invited to provide further inputs
into the most recent draft of the Protocol, thus preparing it for the meeting
of the Ministers Responsible for Gender/Women’s Affairs.
Way Forward
|
ACTION |
WHO |
WHEN |
|
Draft framework |
Secretariat |
April/May 2006 |
|
Technical Round Table of Experts |
Task force and Technical
Experts |
Sept 2006 |
|
1st Zero draft |
Secretariat |
Sept 2006 |
|
Invitation letters and
Briefing Notes send to Ministers Responsible for Gender |
Secretariat |
Sept 2006 |
|
Initial National Consultations |
National Stakeholders
Govt/CSO |
Nov 2006 |
|
Consolidation of inputs into
the Draft |
Secretariat |
Nov. 2006 |
|
Ministers Responsible for Gender
Meeting |
Secretariat |
Last week of Nov. 2006 |
|
1st Draft finalized and sent back to Member States |
Secretariat |
Dec 2006 |
|
Further consultation on
the 1st Draft at national
level & consolidation of inputs |
Task Force, NGM CSO |
Jan/March 2007 |
|
Progress Report to Council of
Minister’s Meeting |
Secretariat |
Feb
2007 |
|
Regional Consultative Meeting on
the Protocol on Gender and Development |
Secretariat, |
April
2007 |
|
Ministers Responsible for Gender’s
Meeting |
Ministers of
Gender, Senior Officials & the
Taskforce |
June 2007 |
|
2nd Draft Finalized and
Disseminated to Member States |
Secretariat, Ministries
of Gender and Justice |
June 2007 |
|
Ministers of Justice Meeting to
Clear the 2nd Draft for |
Ministers of Justice |
July 2007 |
|
3rd Draft |
Secretariat |
July 2007 |
|
Submit Draft to |
Secretariat |
Aug 2007 |
|
Adopted & Signed Protocol |
Secretariat |
Aug 2007 |
1.2.2.2 GENDER MAINSTREAMING
In accordance with the
SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), gender must be
mainstreamed in all policies, programmes and activities of SADC. The SADC
Gender Programme continues to embark on capacity building activities such as
training and awareness raising workshops for staff. So far trainings have been
conducted in all four Directorates. Guidelines on mainstreaming gender in the
Sectoral Programmes have been developed based on the gender audits.
Increasingly,
more staff at SADC Secretariat Directorates (TIFI, FANR, SHDSP and I & S) and Units integrate gender in their plans of
action. This fact is indicated by
the heightened consultations and requests for support from staff members of the
Directorates to the Gender Unit to review documents before they are
finalized. Recent examples include the intensive SADC/ADB program development process
where Gender was fully integrated. The Gender Unit provides the necessary
technical inputs and backstopping on gender mainstreaming for all the
project concepts.
The Gender Unit has
mobilized resources to embark upon further gender mainstreaming initiatives
both at the Secretariat and Regional levels. Planned activities shall be mainly
capacity building including training, gender mainstreaming of policies,
programmes and projects. Each Directorate shall be supported with a short term
expert on gender to facilitate skills development and review of policies within
the Directorates. In addition to that, material resources and in particular the
Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit will be developed. The Toolkit shall provide
concepts and methods for gender mainstreaming, aspects for gender analysis for
the different sectors and tools for integrating gender at various stages. The
toolkit shall be used as a reference by all SADC institutions, including Member
States, in their gender mainstreaming efforts.
Terms of reference for
the short terms consultants to be attached to the different Directorates and
Units as well as terms of reference for the development of the Gender
Mainstreaming Toolkit have been developed and the Secretariat is in the process
of recruiting these consultants to be on board by April 2007.
The Gender Unit continues
to coordinate activities that seek to raise awareness on gender at the SADC
Secretariat. The Gender Unit spearheaded the following activities:
i.
Web Based daily bulletins on the 16 Days of Activism Against
Gender Based Violence (November 2005)
ii.
International Women’s Day Commemorations at SADC Secretariat
(March 2006)
iii.
Executive Secretary’s Statement on International Women’s Day
(March 2006, March 2007)
iv.
Contributions in the review and amendment of the SADC
Secretariat Administrative Rules and Procedures Handbook in January 2006, and
other policy documents/programmes in the Directorates
In addition to these
mainstreaming efforts, the Gender Unit tracks the gender disaggregated data on
posting at the Secretariat (Table 1.2.2.1).
While the Secretariat has reached the 30% original target for women in
decision making positions there is still work to do. The SADC Secretariat is currently working
towards the 50% target and also aiming to place at least one woman in the
currently male dominated top four positions of Executive Secretary, Deputy
Executive Secretary, Chief Director and Administration Officer.
Table
1.2.2.2.1 WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING POSITIONS:
SADC Secretariat Staff in Regional
Appointments
May 2006
|
|
|
|||
|
Designation/ Directorate |
Total Posts |
Filled |
Male |
Female |
|
EXECUTIVE |
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
Secretary |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Deputy
Executive Secretary |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Chief
Director |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Admin
Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
TIFI |
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Senior
Programme Managers |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
FARN |
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Senior
Programme Managers/Head |
6 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
|
Officers |
5 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
SHDSP |
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Senior
Programme Managers/Head |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Infrastructure & Services |
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Senior
Programme Managers/Head |
5 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
|
Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Gender Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Head |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Officer |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Policy & Strategic Planning Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Programme Manager |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Officers |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Administration Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Officers |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Human Resource Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Head |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Finance Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Officers |
4 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
|
Corporate Communication Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Manager |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Manager |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Librarian |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
ICT Support Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Manager |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Webmaster |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Network
Manager |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Database
Manager |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Internal Audit Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Internal Auditor |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Internal
Auditor |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Conference Services Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Officer Conference Services |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Officer
Conference Services |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Translations
Senior Officers |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Translation
Officers |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Legal Affairs Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Legal Council |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Legal
Council |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
Directorate of the Organ |
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
Head
RPTC |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Senior
Officers |
7 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
78 |
43 |
30 (70%) |
13 (30%) |
1.2.2.3 COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION
SHARING AND NETWORKING
1.2.2.3.1 Publications
The SADC Gender Unit
strives to strengthen communication and information sharing with various
stakeholders with a view to disseminate information on gender and development
extensively. Strategies to achieve this include publications, documentation of
best practices and reports. The already published resources include:
· Gender Resource Kit And
Supplementary
· SADC Gender Monitor
Issues 1, 2 and 3 (co-published by the
SADC Gender Unit and SARDC-WIDSAA)
· The Report on the
Implementation of the
· Gender Mainstreaming
Reports for each SADC Directorate (2005)
· Report on the SADC
Consultative Conference on Gender and Development, December 2005 (with
technical papers on CD – ROMs)
· Strategic Implementation
Framework on Gender and Development, 2006-2010 (at press).
1.2.2.3.2 Networking
SADC Gender Unit
collaborates with a number of regional inter-governmental organizations, regional
CSO/NGOs and networks to facilitate accelerated efforts in the implementation
of the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development and its Addendum. With strong collaboration between the
1.2.2.4 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
SADC
Secretariat, Gender Unit continues to monitor the implementation of the SADC
Declaration on Gender and Development and its Addendum on the Prevention and
Eradication of Violence Against Women and Children. Efforts to strengthen
reporting and monitoring measures by the Members States needs to be
facilitated. There is need to adhere to agreed reporting times as per the SADC
Declaration on Gender and Development and a decision of the Ministers of Gender
Meeting in Swakopmund, Namibia 2002.
This agreement states that Member States must submit comprehensive
progress reports once every two years. The year 2006 represented the year for
submission of these reports and they have all been collated into this regional
report.
In addition, one of the
priorities for the SADC Gender programme is to strengthen and synchronize the
monitoring and reporting systems within the region. The SADC Gender Unit in
collaboration with other stakeholders intends to utilize the UNECA African
Gender and Development Index for that purpose.
1.2.3. Approved priorities for the SADC Gender Programme
ICM 2006 has approved the
following priorities for 2007/8
i.
Policy Development and Harmonization (SADC Protocol on
Gender and Development and SADC Regional Gender Policy)
ii.
Institutional Strengthening and
iii.
Gender Mainstreaming
iv.
Women’s Empowerment Programmes( Women in Political and
Decision Making Positions Phase II and Violence Against Women)
v.
Communication, Networking and Information Sharing
vi.
Monitoring and Evaluation
2. Progress Report on the Implementation of the
SADC Declaration on
Gender and
Development: Member States Reports
2.2 General Overview of Gender Developments and
Trends in Member States
The SADC Declaration on
Gender and Development (1997) serves to ensure that gender is routinely taken
into account in all aspects of development in each
2.2.1 Gender
and Institutional Development
Most Member States have
established structures for gender in the form of Ministries Responsible for
Gender/Women Affairs or departments mandated with gender issues in government
ministries. Out of the fourteen SADC Member States, eight have fully-fledged
Ministries Responsible for Gender/ Women’s Affairs, although these Ministries
also deal with other social issues such as family welfare, child protection,
population and community development issues.
Those eight Member States are
The establishment of
these institutional mechanisms to facilitate and coordinate gender issues is a
sign of Member States honouring their commitments and translating them into
actions. However, their effectiveness as
National Gender Machineries depends on the mandate and the resources allocated,
both human and financial, to carry out the mandate. Since a large number of the fully-fledged
Ministries Responsible for Women’s/Gender Affairs have additional responsibilities
such as youth, children and sports, there is a danger of the focus on gender to
be diluted by other tasks that the Ministries are expected to carry out.
2.3 Measures Taken in Compliance with 1997 SADC
Declaration on Gender and Development – Article:
H.2 Ensuring the equal representation
of women and men in the decision making of Member States and SADC structures at
all levels, and the achievement of at least thirty percent target of women in
political and decision making structures by year 2005
2.3.1 Women in Political and Decision Making
Positions
2.3.1.1 General Overview
SADC Summit, August 2005
increased the target of women representation at political and decision making
positions from 30% to 50% in line with the African Union target. Only two Member states,
2.3.1.3 Statistics for Women in Political Positions
Table 2.3.1.2.1: Women
Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and Councillors[1]
|
cOUNTRY |
ministers |
dEPUTY-MINISTERS |
members of parliament |
rURAL/prov. cOUNCILLORS |
uRBAN COUNCILLORS |
|||||
|
|
Male |
Female
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
93% |
7% |
78% |
22% |
87.7% |
12.3% |
96.5% |
3.5% |
97% |
3% |
|
|
71.4% |
28.6% |
83.3% |
16.7% |
89% |
11% |
80% |
[2]20% |
80.4% |
19.6% |
|
DRC |
90% |
10% |
75% |
25% |
88% |
12% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
69% |
31% |
75% |
25% |
(NA)
86% (Sen.)
65.6% |
14% 34.4% |
42% |
58% |
67% |
33% |
|
|
86% |
14% |
95% |
5% |
76% |
24% |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
79% |
21% |
66.7 |
33.3% |
85% |
15% |
96% |
4% |
91% |
9% |
|
|
90% |
10% |
100% |
0 |
83% |
17% |
94% |
6% |
86% |
14% |
|
|
77% |
23.0% |
73.4% |
26.6% |
64% |
36% |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
|
|
73% |
27% |
75% |
25% |
73% |
27% |
88% |
12% |
55% |
45% |
|
South-Africa |
57.2% |
42.8% |
57.2% |
42.8% |
67.34% |
32.65% |
63% |
37% |
60% |
40% |
|
|
82% |
18% |
0 |
100% |
81% |
19% |
84% |
16% |
80% |
20% |
|
|
80% |
20% |
67.% |
33% |
70% |
30% |
---- |
---- |
64.5% |
35.5% |
|
|
74% |
26% |
84% |
16% |
88% |
12% |
94% |
6% |
93% |
7% |
|
|
85.4% |
14.6% |
85% |
15% |
65.2%
|
34.8% |
90.4% |
9.6% |
88% |
12% |
Source:
National Progress Reports from Member States, 2006 (most recent information
requested from Member States February, 2007)
2.3.1.2 What measures were adopted to achieve these
levels?
Member States in general
focused on sensitization, public education, lobbying and advocacy
initiatives. Furthermore, Member States
noted the positive repercussions of initiatives to popularize the SADC
Declaration on Gender and Development.
Furthermore, multiple Member States reported work in developing and
advocating for gender mainstreaming guidelines to be utilized within central,
local government policies, documents and boards. When gender is mainstreamed within central
and local governments there will surely be an increase in women in politics in
the region as a whole.
Some Members States
related instances of local best practice that are both exciting and
innovative. Lesotho reported that the
SADC Declaration on Gender and Development, the local Gender and Development
Policy, and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
have been translated into the local language.
Furthermore, still in
2.3.2 Women and Public Services Sector
2.3.2.1 General Overview
SADC Summit, August 2005,
increased the target of women representation at political and decision making
positions from 30% to 50% in line with the African Union. None of the Member States has yet reached the
50% target in any of the targeted position of the Public Service Sector. Still, progress is noted. At Permanent/Principal Secretary level,
2.3.2.3 Statistics for Women in the following:
Permanent / Principal Secretary, Deputy Permanent / Principal Secretary,
Directors / Heads of Department
Table 2.3.2.2.1: Women and Public Services Sector
|
Country |
Permanent /Principal Secretary |
Deputy Permanent/ Principal Secretary |
Directors/ Heads of Department |
|||
|
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
---- |
---- |
|
|
90.5% |
9.5% |
74% |
26% |
[3]75.4%, [4]66.7% |
24.6% 34.3% |
|
DRC |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
56% |
44% |
69% |
31% |
52% |
48% |
|
|
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
80% |
20% |
88% |
12% |
90% |
10% |
|
|
64.5% |
35.5% |
65.5% |
34.5% |
65.4% |
34.6% |
|
|
74% |
26% |
---- |
---- |
81% |
19% |
|
|
77% |
23% |
76% |
24% |
68% |
32% |
|
South-Africa[5] |
70% |
30% |
70% |
30% |
70% |
30% |
|
|
78% |
22% |
---- |
---- |
77% |
23% |
|
|
73% |
27% |
86% |
14% |
78% |
22% |
|
|
81% |
19% |
------- |
------- |
77% |
23% |
|
|
80% |
20% |
63% |
37% |
78% |
22% |
Source: National
Progress Reports from Member States, 2006 (most recent information requested
from Member States February, 2007)
2.3.2.2 What measures were adopted to achieve these
levels?
Almost all Member States
reported the utilization of gender mainstreaming strategies as a key component
of approach to increasing the number of women in the Public Services
Sector. Member States described various
plans of mainstreaming, sensitization, and creating awareness of a gender
perspective within all levels of the Public Services Sector.
Member States also noted
the importance of the overall empowerment of women as a strategy to encourage
women applicants. In addition to this,
both
A third measure adopted
by Member States is the encouragement and support of women in education and
training programmes. For example, in
Finally it is vital to
note that affirmative action plans have been quite successful in some Member
States. By creating quotas, supporting
equally qualified women candidates, and generally establishing realistic and
concrete targets for women’s participation in the Public Service Sector the
SADC region can look forward to a future of gender equity.
2.3.2.4 Challenges and Comments
Several Member States
noted that part of the problem in gaining ground in regards to women in the
Public Service is a lack of qualified female candidates for the jobs. Clearly providing educational opportunities
for women is an important initiative toward reaching the goal of 50% female
representation in decision making positions in the SADC region.
Member States also noted
that some women do not feel empowered to apply for certain positions within the
Public Service. It is important that
National Gender Machineries and
Most Member States agreed
that women working in the Public Service Sector form the majority of the low
skilled workers occupying positions which are considered as non-core.
A final concern raised by
multiple Member States is the effect that culture has on women’s application,
acceptance, and retention in Public Service positions. With a lack of self-confidence, familial
responsibilities, and spousal resentment (just a few among many cultural issues)
it is difficult to persuade women to enter and remain in Public Service
positions. This proves a very difficult
hurdle to overcome.
2.3.3 Women in the Judiciary
2.3.3.1 General Overview
The current SADC regional
targets for women’s representation at political and decision making positions
is 50% in line with the African Union.
It is exciting to note that
It is critical for Member
States to strive to reach the 50% target for women in the Judiciary.
2.3.3.2 Statistics for Women Judges, Chief
Justices, and Magistrates
Table
2.3.3.2.1: Status of Women Representation in the Judiciary
|
cOUNTRY |
Supreme Court/court of appeal/
High Court |
magistrate’s court |
||||||||
|
|
Chief Justice |
President |
Registrar |
Judges |
Magistrates |
|||||
|
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
---- |
---- |
100% |
0 |
---- |
---- |
80% |
20% |
83% |
17% |
|
|
100% |
0 |
100% |
0 |
100% |
0 |
95% |
5% |
57% |
43% |
|
DRC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100% |
0 |
100% |
0 |
---- |
---- |
64% |
36% |
58% |
42% |
|
|
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
100% |
0 |
---- |
---- |
100 |
0 |
84% |
16% |
76.7% |
23.3% |
|
|
100% |
0 |
33% |
67% |
100% |
0 |
54.5% |
45.5% |
50% |
50% |
|
|
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
|
|
100% |
0 |
100% |
0 |
100% |
0 |
80% |
20% |
57% |
43% |
|
South-Africa |
---- |
---- |
60% |
40% |
---- |
---- |
84.6% |
15.4% |
65% |
35% |
|
|
100 |
0 |
---- |
---- |
100 |
0 |
83% |
17% |
78% |
22% |
|
|
----- |
----- |
---- |
---- |
77% |
23% |
77% |
23% |
71% |
29% |
|
|
87% |
13% |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
69.8% |
30.2% |
77% |
23% |
|
|
---100- |
---- |
53.4% |
46.6% |
---- |
---- |
70.4% |
29.6% |
73.5% |
26.5% |
Source: National Progress
Reports from Member States, 2006 (most recent information requested from Member
States February, 2007)
2.3.3.3 What measures were adopted to achieve these
levels?
Member States pointed to
affirmative action plans and educational support for women as two of the most
significant and effective measures adopted to increase the number of women in
the Judiciary. Clearly if women are
educated in order to be qualified members of the judicial team and then offered
appropriate positions, change can be made in the representation of women in the
judicial system in the SADC region. In
addition to this, the use of awareness campaigns, sensitization efforts, and
lobbying of leaders and decision makers to appoint suitably qualified women
into positions has proven to create significant change.
2.3.3.4 Challenges and Comments
It is important to note
some significant circumstances in individual
First of all,
In terms of increases in
the number of female judges and magistrates many Member States are making
significant progress. On the other hand
there are some challenges. As the report
from
The figures … indicate a
significant presence of female judicial officers. However reports have shown that the presence
of gender insensitive females within the Judiciary, general lack of knowledge
about international agreements on women’s rights such as CEDAW, does not lend
any support at all to the protection and promotion of the rights of women. Although women have access to positions of
decision making within the Judiciary, women’s access to justice through
judicial services remains limited. It
has been show that women are prone to seek justice in informal structures such
as the family, the Chief’s place and/or the Priest, in an effort to try to find
reconciliation. In addition to this,
discomfort with the formal procedures of the court, high legal costs and other
sundry costs related to litigation, lack of enforcement and lack of knowledge
about their rights inhibit women to seek justice through the courts of the law.
(
Clearly if the SADC
region is to make progress in women’s access to equitable legal protection all
those associated with the judicial system must be sensitized in regards to
gender, international agreements on women’s rights and how the legal system can
be made more gender responsive.
H.3 Promoting women's full access to,
and control over productive resources such as land, livestock, markets, credit,
modern technology, formal employment, and a good quality of life in order to
reduce the level of poverty among women;
2.3.4 Women’s Access and Control of Resources
2.3.4.1 General Overview
From land reform acts to
constitutional amendments it is clear that Member States are committed to
promoting women’s full access to productive resources. There have been many powerful reformations
that have taken place over the years but it is clear that new measures must be
adopted if the position of women is to progress.
Some Member States
including
Clearly all National
Gender Machineries understand the importance of putting in place measures to
increase women’s access to markets and credit. For example,
Measures to address women
living in poverty in Member States has been sporadic, but there are clear
connections between land, credit, and market initiatives and the reduction of
poverty. Clearly none of these measures
can stand alone, but the effects of change to the former will prove positive in
regards to reducing poverty amongst women.
Finally, it is most
important that Member States report more fully women’s access to available
information, communication strategies and modern technology. Are women enrolling in technological
vocational studies? Is computer training
part of the entrepreneurship skills being offered to women in business? Are women trained in the use of the internet
and web based mail? These empowering
technologies are important to reducing women’s poverty and ensuring successful
business opportunities for women. It is
vital that Member States place an emphasis on improving women’s access to
skills in the use of modern technology.
2.3.4.2 What measures were adopted to achieve
positive developments?
In order to reap the
benefits of legal amendments,
In regards to women in
business,
Another important measure
developed by
In
2.3.4.3 Challenges and Comments
While
significant changes are underway for women in the SADC region, there are some
obstacles to gender and development that have proved complicated
In addition
to these issues,
Finally,
2.3.5 Women in Formal Employment
2.3.5.1 General Overview
While women are making
great strides in the SADC Region, it is clear that gender roles are still
heavily embedded in the formal employment sector. At the same time, each
Mauritius reports that
while there have been dramatic changes in the occupational and sectoral
distribution of the female labour force (with women experiencing a rising share
in services and manufacturing and a declining share in agriculture and domestic
service) there is still both horizontal and vertical segregation of occupations
by gender. Factors which have promoted labour force participation of women are:
fertility reduction, increased life expectancy, economic hardships and wider
opportunities beyond the confines of family and home. On the other hand, the main factors
constraining higher participation are: resistance by some family members to
women’s participation in paid employment, inability to make arrangements for
childcare, housework demands, nurturing within the household, reproductive
responsibilities and difficulties in managing the interface between home and
work.
The report from
There are many trends
evident from the previous data. First of
all, it is clear that women are over represented in informal and unstable
employment. In addition, women are used
as a reserve army of labour, as the report from
2.3.5.2 Statistics for Women in Formal Employment
- Information in
form of percentages from those countries reporting statistics
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|
Education |
33.3 |
66.7 |
90.8 |
9.2 |
52 |
48 |
---- |
---- |
59.2 |
40.8 |
|
Health |
35.3 |
64.7 |
94.9 |
5.1 |
15 |
85 |
---- |
---- |
57.7 |
42.3 |
|
Agriculture, Hunting, Fishing & Forestry |
76.1 |
23.9 |
91.5 |
8.5 |
62.5 |
37.5 |
45.3 |
54.7 |
44.4 |
56.6 |
|
Sales & Services |
30.7 |
69.3 |
79.6 |
20.4 |
42 |
58 |
45.5 |
54.5 |
46.4 |
54.6 |
|
Mining & Quarrying |
77.8 |
22.2 |
99.9 |
0.1 |
88 |
12 |
100 |
0 |
93.3 |
6.7 |
|
Manufacturing |
31.1 |
68.9 |
---- |
---- |
84 |
16 |
---- |
---- |
74.9 |
25.1 |
|
Electricity, Gas, & Water |
45.5 |
50.5 |
99.9 |
0.1 |
---- |
---- |
100 |
0 |
---- |
---- |
|
Construction |
58.5 |
41.5 |
99.6 |
0.4 |
88 |
12 |
100 |
0 |
93.7 |
6.3 |
|
Private Household Employees |
13.8 |
86.2 |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
45.4 |
54.6 |
Source: National Progress Reports
from Member States, 2006
2.3.5.3 What measures were adopted to achieve these
developments?
From affirmative
action programmes to employment equity policies, Member States have shown a
real commitment to equalizing access to employment opportunities. There are some efforts that require reference
in order to highlight best practice.
Still, the SADC Secretariat congratulates all Member States on their
efforts and encourages them to continue to work for equal access to employment.
The Namibian Employment
Equity Commission merits special mention for the important work that they are
doing. The function of the Commission is
to enquire whether employers have adopted and are implementing affirmative action
provision as per the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act of 1995. Furthermore, these affirmative action
measures are scrutinized in order to gauge if they meet the objectives of the
local Employment Equity Act. In addition
this, the Commission also advises people, bodies, institutions, organizations
and interest groups on matters pertaining to the objectives of the Act. The Employment Equity Commission is committed
to providing the necessary advice, assistance and guidance to relevant
employers, designated groups and employees in furtherance of the principles of
equity and equality in the workforce.
Clearly the Commission is an important body and a practical initiative
for other Member States.
At the moment, the
Government of Lesotho is also drafting a National Employment Policy and an
Implementation Strategy to improve the employment situation in the
country. Specific areas of focus include
promoting employment amongst vulnerable groups and women. At the same time, the statistics clearly show
that Basotho women are well represented in most areas of formal employment due
to a national history that has resulted in higher levels of education amongst
women.
2.3.5.4 Challenges and Comments
Member States
are encouraged to more completely report on this area of the SADC Declaration
on Gender and Development. Clearly up to
date statistics and more complete reporting would give us a greater
understanding of the situation and progress in the region.
In addition it
will be interesting to receive information from Member States regarding any new
legislation or research that may be developed regarding workplace sexual
harassment as suggested in the report from
H.4&7 Repealing and reforming all laws,
amending constitutions and changing social practices which still subject women
to discrimination, and enacting empowering gender sensitive laws
2.3.6 Legal and Constitutional Amendments
2.3.6.1 General Overview
The patriarchal ideology
permeating most modern legal systems is best understood as it relates to the
history of law creation. As
The patriarchal
regulation of the legal and customary systems has created contradictions in the
application of these laws and customs.
Some customs permit violations of women’s human rights and these
violations can often go unpunished because they are culturally accepted. Issues of succession and inheritance,
marriage, defilement, rape, abduction and early marriages are of particular
concern.
Clearly it is
important that SADC Member States focus on advocating for changes to
inequitable laws and social practices that discriminate against women in a more
systematic way. While change has been
slow it has also been quite effective as genuine progress has been realized
within the SADC Region.
2.3.6.2 What measures or changes have been adopted?
2.3.6.2.1 National Gender Policies
The potentially
differential effects of policies, programmes and legislation on women or men
can often be masked or obscured. When gender is explicitly considered in policy
analysis these effects are revealed and previously hidden differential
implications for women, men, girls and boys come to light. Culturally defined
roles can and do change in response to policy interventions. Therefore the
development of Gender Policies is a powerful strategy that can be used to
achieve desired equitable outcomes for both men and women. Gender Policies, not only identify the role
players and give targets, but also identify indicators that should be used to
measure the success of identified activities.
A Gender Policy therefore compels and guides an institution or country
on the directions to follow in achieving gender equality and equity. SADC has identified the development of
National Gender Policies as a strategic tool to use in fighting for gender
equality and encouraged Member States to develop Policies as guidelines to the
implementation of their gender programmes at national levels.
There has been positive
progress in Member States towards the development of gender policies as nine
Member States have developed National Gender Policies. These include:
2.3.6.2.2 Constitutional Provisions
In regards to
Constitutional provisions and amendments, progress has been slow. Of the five countries that specifically made
reference to their Constitutions (Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa,
and Tanzania) only Tanzania noted any recent changes (in 2004 the Tanzanian
Constitution was amended to include a 30% target for women’s representation in
Parliament). While Constitutions are not
changing quickly they still often include very progressive provisions for
women’s rights and freedoms.
·
Everybody is equal before the law and has the right to equal
protection and benefit of the law (s9 (1)).
·
It includes provision for affirmative action. It states
“legislative and other measures” may be taken to “protect or advance” people
who have been disadvantaged (s9 (2)).
·
It protects against unfair discrimination on one or more
grounds, including: race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or
social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion,
conscience, belief, culture, language and birth (s9 (3)).
The Mauritian
Constitution also speaks to issues of discrimination, defining this as:
“…affording
different treatment to different persons attributable wholly to their
respective descriptions by race, cast, place of origin, political opinion,
colour, creed or sex.”
The Mauritian
Constitution furthermore speaks to fundamental human rights for all
people. It reads:
“… in Mauritius, there have
existed and shall continue to exist without discrimination by reason of race, place of origin, political opinions,
colour, creed or sex… each and all of the following Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedom–
(a) The right of the individual to life, liberty, security of
the person and the protection of the law
(b) Freedom of conscience, of expression, of assembly and
association and freedom to establish schools; and
(c)
The right of the
individual to protection for the privacy of his home and other property and
from deprivation of property without compensation.”
The Constitution of Lesotho
makes no reference to either sex or gender and, furthermore, discriminates
against women in Section 18 4(c). This section implies that any discriminatory
cultural laws and practices, including customary laws, will be protected and condoned by the Constitution. At the same time, the Constitution does speak
to: “equality of opportunity for the
disadvantaged groups in the society to enable then to participate fully in all
spheres of public life”. Still,
significant changes are necessary in order to make this document a tool to be
used in advocating for women’s rights and freedoms.
In respect to women’s
rights, the Namibian Constitution has not been amended a great deal since it
was adopted in 1990. Still it is quite
progressive, providing for equal rights in marriage and in divorce and
committing the country to eliminating all discriminatory practices. It reads:
All persons shall be equal before the law. No person may be discrimated against on the
grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or
economic status. (10 (1,2))
Confirming the States
commitment to gender issues, women’s equal rights are clearly enshrined in the
Constitution.
2.3.6.2.3 Legislation
Of the countries
reporting in this section,
As to marriage, divorce
and widowhood, legislation can not change quickly enough, but clearly Member
States are mobilized to act for change.
All persons shall have the
right in any part of Namibia to acquire, own and dispose of all forms of
immovable and movable property individually or in association with others and
to bequeath their property to their heirs or legatees: provided that Parliament
may by legislation prohibit or regulate as it deems expedient the right to acquire property by
persons who are not Namibian citizens. (16 (1))
Addressing sexual
discrimination directly,
Section 4(1)
“…A person discriminates against another person if the first-mentioned
person makes, on any of the grounds specified in subsection (2), any
distinction, exclusion or preference, the intent of the effect of which is to
nullify or impair equality of opportunity or treatment or employment.”
Section 4(2) – (the subsection referred to in 4(1))
“1. Sex, marital
status, pregnancy or family responsibility; or
2. A characteristic
that generally appertains, or is imputed, to a person of the same sex or marital status as that other person, or to a person
who is pregnant or has family responsibility.”
Section 4(3)
“Any act or omission or any practice or policy that directly
or indirectly results in discrimination against a person on a ground referred
to in subsection (2), is an act of discrimination regardless of whether the
person is responsible for the act or omission or the practice or policy,
intended to discriminate and shall constitute an offence.”
Section 5
“ No employer shall, in relation to recruitment, selection
or employment of any other person for purposes of training, apprenticeship or
employment, discriminate against that any other person on the grounds of sex,
marital status, pregnancy or family responsibility in:-
(a) The advertisement of the job;
(b) The arrangements made for the purpose of determining who
should be offered for employment;
(c) The terms and conditions on which employment is offered; and
(d) The creation, classification or abolition of jobs.”
Clearly this is a progressive
document of which all Mauritian citizens should be very proud.
It is important to note that only
two Member States, namely
Although too recent to be included
in the report received,
2.3.6.2.4
A most important ruling was made in
the case of an accused who was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend by
breaking a glass and cutting her on the chin with it and later assaulting her
by punching her. The accused, a first time offender, claimed he was intoxicated
at the time of the incident and was thus not responsible for his actions. On
the May 9th, 2002, the Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed his
conviction of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and his sentence
of 4 years imprisonment. Lewis AJA stated: “Brutal treatment of woman cannot be
excused on the basis that one is drunk or in a rage. The fact that they may
have had a relationship of some kind does not in any way mitigate his
behaviour. The appellant must live with the consequences of his violent acts. A
sentence of direct imprisonment is not, in the circumstances, inappropriate
even though the appellant is a first offender.” This type of success story is most exciting
and provides encouragement for all Member States to continue to work toward
advocating for laws against all forms of gender based violence.
2.3.6.3 Challenges and Comments
It is clear that
customary laws must be an important focus for Member States when it comes to
changing social practices which still subject women to discrimination. Using for example the report from
a) As much
as the payment of lobola (bride-price) is an essential ingredient in
constituting a traditional marriage, it fosters the perception by a cross section
of society that women are inferior to men.
In extreme cases, women are regarded as chattels (property).
b) Some traditional ceremonies revolve around
prescribing and fostering stereotypes of sex-roles such as the requirement that
a woman must submit to a man no matter what.
c) Sexual
cleansing, although reduced with the advent of HIV and AIDS, is still prevalent
and more stringently enforced when the person to be cleansed is a woman.
In addition to a focus on
customary law, it is important that Member States also give particular
consideration to the tension between adopted law and social practice. When laws are created are they then
harmonized and made known to the people?
In what ways might the social and political atmosphere encourage or
discourage women from utilizing new legal frameworks? Are these laws being domesticated, translated
and made accessible and comprehensible to the populations they are meant to
help? It is clear that just creating
laws and amending constitutions will not be enough – entire social systems must
be transformed to create real social and legal equality.
In conclusion Member
States are encouraged to report more specifically on developments within the
two year reporting period, rather than on changes made prior to that as these
developments have often already been documented. It is important that SADC Member States
applaud past achievements, but even more importantly continue to work for
change in the future. It will also be
beneficial for Member States to record direct quotes from all legal documents
in order to help fellow Member States in drafting changes to domestic
policies.
Finally, it is helpful if
all changes are placed within a timeframe to better aid monitoring and
evaluation of initiatives. This will also help
H.5 Enhancing access to quality
education by women and men, and removing gender stereotyping in the curriculum,
career choices and professions
2.3.7 Women in Educational and Training Institutions
2.3.7.1 General Overview
2.3.7.1.1 Educational
Policy and Curriculum Review
Nearly all reporting countries noted the gender insensitivity or gender
blindness in educational policy documents.
Clearly a review of educational policy, curriculum, texts, etc. is
necessary in all SADC Member States if the socializing effects of education are
to be ameliorated. To some extent this
process has begun in Member States, as noted in reports from
2.3.7.1.2 Gendered
Segregation of Subject Areas
Member States also noted the important role that culture plays in
maintaining gender roles and thus encouraging gendered segregation of subject
areas. For example, at the
There are examples of
gender role socializing in the programmes of study taken up by young men and
women in
At
2.3.7.1.3 Gender and School Attendance
While gender role
socialization affects the subject areas that boys and girls choose to study, it
also plays a significant role determining how children are encouraged or
discouraged in regards to school attendance.
Most Member States note that there is equal enrolment of boys and girls
at the primary level of education, but that there are increasing numbers of
girls dropping out as they reach the higher levels of education. For young girls, educational prospects are
often affected by domestic chores, the gendered burden of caring within the
family and teenage pregnancy. In
2.3.7.1.4 HIV and AIDS and Education
With the HIV and AIDS
epidemic affecting all SADC Member States, girls are often hindered in pursuing
an education as they are expected to care for ailing family members. Namibia reports that children whose
relatives have AIDS generally have lower enrolment and completion rates due to
a lack of school fees, increased domestic chores and labour in the communal
agricultural sector. By the year 2010 as
many as 130 000 children in
Children affected by AIDS
face socio-economic challenges such as lack of adequate food, money for school
related expenses, poverty, abuse and exploitation, all of which affects their
education. In addition, educational
staffs such as teachers, principals and hostel caretakers are infected with and
affected by HIV. Girls are most likely
to drop out of school due to sickness in the family, as funds available for
school are diverted to the sick and girls are expected to take care of sick
family members.
2.3.7.1.5 Teenage
Pregnancy and Education
The effects of pregnancy
on female students can often be highly detrimental. With many female students feeling ashamed and
being encouraged to discontinue studies, it is important that Member States
take positive steps to encourage girls to continue to invest in education even
when they are expecting.
In Zimbabwean Teachers
Colleges, a policy has been adopted (1997) encouraging female students to stay
in college when they get pregnant (unless this is not possible for health
reasons). Similarly, in October 1999,
the Zimbabwe Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture adopted a policy to
regulate the granting of leave to girls who fall pregnant in primary and
secondary schools and their re-enrolment after delivery. Where the person
responsible for the pregnancy is a schoolboy, he too is granted leave for the
same duration. The granting of such leave is accompanied by counselling, for
the affected school children and their parents, by the head of the school. Despite these efforts, societal pressure
often demands that girls transfer schools after they give birth. Even worse, some fail to go back to school,
as they have to deal with the demands of motherhood.
The government of
2.3.7.1.6 Rural and
Urban Enrolment Rates
Multiple countries also note the geographical inequities in accessing
education, noting that rural women and girls are very much disadvantages. Clearly those living remote lifestyles, the
Basotho mountain dwellers and the Namibian Himba for example, are less likely
to receive an education. Undoubtedly
action must be taken in order for Member States to proactively approach this
problem and ensure that no children are left behind in terms of receiving an
education.
2.3.7.2 Educational Statistics in the SADC Region
|
|
Free Education[12] |
Mandatory Attendance Age |
Gender Disaggregated Literacy Rate |
National Literacy Rate |
|||
|
|
Primary |
Secondary |
Tertiary |
|
Male |
Female |
|
|
|
No |
No |
No |
---- |
82.1% |
53.8% |
66.8% |
|
|
ü
|
FEA |
GFLA |
---- |
76.9% |
82.4% |
79.8% |
|
DRC |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
76.2% |
55.1% |
65.5% |
|
|
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
74.5% |
94.5% |
84.8% |
|
|
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
76.1% |
49.8% |
62.7% |
|
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
16 years |
88.6% |
82.7% |
85.6% |
|
|
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
75.5% |
62.5% |
68.9% |
|
|
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
63.5% |
32.7% |
47.8% |
|
|
ü
|
FE/OVC |
GFLA |
---- |
84.4% |
83.7% |
84% |
|
|
ü
|
No[13] |
No |
14 years |
87% |
85.7% |
86.4% |
|
|
GFLA |
GFLA |
GFLA |
---- |
82.6% |
80.8% |
81.6% |
|
|
ü
|
GFLA |
GFLA |
---- |
85.9% |
70.7% |
78.2% |
|
|
ü
|
FE/OVC |
No |
---- |
86.8% |
74.8% |
80.6% |
|
|
ü
|
No |
No |
---- |
94.2% |
87.2% |
90.7% |
Source: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
National Progress Reports from
Member States, 2006
Key: ---- – Information not available
FEA – Fee Exemptions Available
GFLA – Government Funding or Loans
Available
FE/OVC – Free Education for Orphans
and Vulnerable Children
ü - Yes
2.3.7.3 Challenges and Comments
Member States
are encouraged to more accurately chart the statistics on women in educational
and/or training institutions. The
monitoring tool provided includes a table that the Secretariat believes will
provide us with more useful information.
It would be most appreciated if all Member States could provide this
information in future. In addition table
3.7.2 (above) provides information that relates quite closely to the Millennium
Development Goals and will be important in future reporting.
In terms of best
practice,
Taking the lead from
various Member States that provided very interesting data, the Secretariat also
asks Member States to report on various additional areas of interest including:
· What are the Member
States laws regarding girls who become pregnant while at school? Does the pregnant girl have to drop out or is
she allowed to stay in school? Is she
allowed to return to school once she gives birth? What happens if the father of the child is
also of school age? Does he experience
any repercussions? What is the lived
reality in the
· What are the female and
male literacy rates in the Member States?[14]
· What is the national
policy in regards to school fees? In
addition to school fees what are the average costs of books, uniforms,
etc.? Is there a national policy aimed
at providing education costs for underprivileged, orphaned or other vulnerable
children?
· What is the ratio of male
and female teachers at all levels of education?
How are the genders distributed across subject areas? For example, are all Home Economics teachers
female? Are most science teachers male?
Clearly Member States are
making great strides in closing the educational gender gap, but work still
needs to be done. The SADC Secretariat
looks forward to future reports that will surely see the region meeting
Millennium Development Goal 2, universal primary education and gender equity by
2015.
H.6&8 Making quality reproductive and other
health services more accessible to women and men
2.3.8 Gender and Health
2.3.8.1 General Overview
The SADC Region
is a diverse and distinct area. With HIV
and AIDS rates ranging from 0.7% infection rate in
HIV and AIDS
have also had a significant impact on average life expectancy in the
Region. Countries with high adult
prevalence rates see correspondingly low life expectancy for both men and
women. In
As to gender
disaggregated data on life expectancy women and men both live the longest in
The SADC Region
also experiences great range in infant mortality rates. Most concerning are countries such as
As to fertility
rates for SADC Member States, the numbers range from an average of 6.45 children
born per woman in DRC to 1.95 children born per woman in Mauritius. Further study as to corresponding policies or
programmes that may affect fertility rates in SADC Member States is necessary.
2.3.8.2 Statistics on Gender and Health
|
|
Infant Mortality Rate |
HIV and AIDS |
Life Expectancy |
Fertility Rate |
|||
|
|
Deaths Per 1,000 Live Births |
Adult Prevalence Rate |
PLWHA |
AIDS Deaths |
Male |
Female |
Average Children Born Per Woman |
|
|
185.36 |
3.8% |
249,000 |
21,000 |
37.47 |
39.83 |
6.35 |
|
|
53.7 |
37.3% |
35,000 |
33,000 |
33.9 |
33.56 |
2.79 |
|
DRC |
88.62 |
4.2% |
1,100,000 |
100,000 |
50.01 |
50.94 |
6.45 |
|
|
87.24 |
28.9% |
320,000 |
29,000 |
35.55 |
33.21 |
3.28 |
|
|
94.37 |
14.2% |
900,000 |
84,000 |
41.93 |
41.45 |
5.92 |
|
|
14.59 |
0.7% |
700 |
<100 |
68.66 |
76.66 |
1.95 |
|
|
75.21 |
1.7% |
140,000 |
7,500 |
54.93 |
59.82 |
5.62 |
|
|
129.24 |
12.2% |
1,300,000 |
110,000 |
39.82 |
39.53 |
4.62 |
|
|
48.1 |
21.3% |
210,000 |
16,000 |
44.46 |
42.29 |
3.06 |
|
|
60.66 |
21.5% |
5,300,000 |
370,000 |
43.25 |
42.19 |
2.2 |
|
|
71.85 |
38.8% |
220,000 |
17,000 |
32.1 |
33.17 |
3.53 |
|
|
96.48 |
8.8% |
1,600,000 |
160,000 |
44.93 |
46.37 |
4.97 |
|
|
86.84 |
16.5% |
920,000 |
89,000 |
39.76 |
40.31 |
5.39 |
|
|
51.71 |
24.6% |
1,800,000 |
170,000 |
40.39 |
38.16 |
3.13 |
Source: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
2.3.8.3 What measures
have been taken to ensure quality reproductive health and other health services
affecting women?
2.3.8.3.1 Childbirth
The Mauritian Government
ensures that appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, antenatal and
post-natal care are offered free of charge where necessary. The Government furthermore ensures that
adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is available. Adequate services are also provided on family
planning after a first confinement to assist women in the regulation of
child-bearing.
In 2004,
In
2.3.8.3.2 Teenage pregnancy
The Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has an Adolescent
Health Programme with the purpose of ensuring that youth have access to
appropriate sexual and reproductive health care and education in order to
reduce the HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst adolescents. As a result Adolescent
Health Corners have been established in five hospital service areas. This programme provides adolescents with
health information, counselling on risk reduction, VCT, ante natal care
services, STI screening, parenting classes and recreational activities.
According to a recent survey (2004) demand for these services has increased.
According to Botswana
Family Health Survey III (1996) the contraceptive prevalence rate amongst the
15 – 19 year olds in the country was 22.1%.
This is despite the high knowledge on family planning, with 97.4% of
respondents reporting that they knew about family planning methods. It seems
more recently that things are changing in
Addressing teenage
pregnancy, the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services currently
implements an Adolescent Friendly Health Services initiative in 12 out of 34
health districts. The aim is to make health facilities more accessible and
responsive to young people’s particular needs.
Despite this initiative, teenage girls still account for 9% of
2.3.8.3.3 Safe abortions
Of the Member States
reporting, only
In
2.3.8.3.4 Cervical and Breast Cancer Care
In
2.3.8.3.4.1
|
|
2001/2002 |
2002/2003 |
2003/2004 |
2004/2005 |
2005/2006 |
|
Total Pap Smear done |
86
44 |
10
555 |
11
737 |
9
028 |
17
712 |
The Government of
Tanzania works with the Women Doctors Association to provide cervical and
breast cancer screening and treatment free of charge. Between 2004 and 2005 more than 10,000
Tanzanian women tested for cervical and/or breast cancer with more than 3,000
women found to need treatment.
Clearly education
campaigns, collaboration with medical groups and State funds must be aimed
toward testing and treatment of cervical and breast cancers.
2.3.8.3.5 Old Age Care
Of the Member States
reporting, only
Nationally,
In terms of best
practice,
2.3.8.3.6 HIV and AIDS
The 2004 Health Survey in
In
1. The
Home-Based Care Programme works with volunteers and health personnel, deploying
health care workers in communities to relieve some of the burden for girls and
women caring for people living with AIDS and other chronic illnesses.
2. The
programme for the Protection and Support of Children Affected by AIDS supports children who have lost their
parents to AIDS.
3. The Paediatric
Treatment programme provides antiretroviral treatment to children in need.
4. The
National AIDS Coordinating Agency was set up in 2000 to coordinate all efforts
by Government, private sector, and civil society to prevent HIV and mitigate
the effects of the epidemic on society.
The South African
Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Prevention, Care, Management and Treatment Plan
(2003) combines prevention, support, care and treatment for HIV and AIDS
associated conditions. The size of the programme is evident from its financing
which has increased from R342 million in 1994 to a projected R3.6 billion in
the 2005-2006 financial year. Important
elements of the Comprehensive Treatment Plan include the following:
1. The South African Government has implemented
various programmes, including life skills training and has been building
partnership with a wide range of organizations including faith-based, business,
government, labour, media, traditional healers, the disabled and women’s
organizations. The partnerships that work most closely with women and gender
related aspects of HIV and AIDS are Women in Partnership against AIDS (WIPAA)
and Men in Partnership against AIDS (MIPAA).
2. A particularly important initiative for women
was the introduction of a policy providing post exposure prophylaxis for women
who are survivors of rape. Post exposure prophylaxis enables adolescent girls,
children, women and any other victim of sexual assault to be immediately placed
on therapy to prevent HIV infections.
3. The South African Femidoms (female condoms)
programme has expanded to ensure that women are truly empowered. Furthermore, the Government has commissioned
research on microbicides that will go a long way to providing options for the
prevention of HIV and AIDS by women.
The Government of
Swaziland has declared HIV and AIDS a national disaster and the statistics
paint a grim picture. HIV and AIDS prevalence rates among women attending
anta-natal clinics rose from 3.9% in 1992 to 38.6% in 2002 and to 42.6% in
2004. The worst affected age category among women is the 15-29 year old
estimated at a 32.5% infection rate. Factors contributing to such escalation
are unsafe sexual practices, low and inconsistent condom use, gendered power
relations, gender based violence, wife inheritance and inter-generational
sexual relationships. In order to combat this problem the Government established
an office called the Swaziland National AIDS Programme (SNAP) to coordinate the
national response. In cognizance of the epidemic, government established a
National Emergency Committee on HIV and AIDS mandated with the responsibility
of coordinating all HIV and AIDS activities. Educational programmes and
awareness campaigns are conducted on a regular basis by the Health Education
Unit through print, audio and visual media channels. A multi-sectoral three year plan of action
has been developed and adopted by stakeholders for implementation as part of a
campaign on women, girls and HIV and AIDS.
2.3.8.3.7 Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
(PMTCT)
In
The Namibian Ministry of
Health also initiated a PMTCT programme in 2002. The national aim is to prevent
vertical transmission of the HIV virus to the baby and to prolong the lives of
mothers and their partners to enable them to care for their babies. Since June
2006 all 34 district hospitals and some clinics and health centres are
providing PMTCT services to antenatal clients.
The Tanzanian PMTCT
programme has been initiated in four referral hospitals and one regional
hospital. The Government aims at introducing PMTCT in 28 health facilities in 7
regions by 2008.
2.3.8.3.8 Family Planning Care
In
Although women have a
right to family planning services, men play a major role in making fertility
and family planning decisions. This has
encouraged the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Committee to initiate male
motivation projects to promote joint family planning and decision making between
men and women and to increase knowledge of family planning methods among men
and women of reproductive age. Family
planning clients have a right to information on all contraceptives so that they
can make an informed choice.
In
A recent (2004) health survey in Lesotho showed that family planning
knowledge in the Kingdom is widespread, with 97% of all women aged 15-49 and
96% of all men aged 15-59 knowing at least one modern method of family
planning. The survey found that
contraceptive use increased with level of education, from 9% among married
women with no education to 49% among married women who had at least some
secondary education. The survey further demonstrated that the family planning
needs of nearly half of Basotho women are not yet being met.
Basotho women are encouraged to control the number and spacing of their
children, but due to family obligations (having to consult with the husband) it
is difficult for women to fully utilize the family planning resources availed
to them. According to the Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey, 78% of married
women reach the decision to use family planning methods with their husbands. Of
the respondents, 15% say that they decided to use contraception on their own
and 5% say that their husbands told them to use contraception. The 2004 Lesotho Demographic and
Health Survey found that while many women do utilize contraceptives, use has
declined since 2001 from 41% to 37%. There is no clear reason why there has
been such a decline.
In
Family planning services
are available free of charge to all Namibians who request them. All health
facilities in
In terms of policy
measures,
Zambian teenagers report
the need for more accessible and responsive service providers if these young
people are to be expected to utilize family planning services.
2.3.8.3.9 Health Posts
Table2.3.8.3.9.1 Namibian
Health Posts
|
Namibian Health Posts |
|
|
Hospitals |
38 |
|
Health Centres |
32 |
|
Health Clinics |
265 |
|
Outreach Points |
~1000 |
|
Private Hospitals |
13 |
|
Private Primary Health
Care Clinics |
17 |
2.3.8.3.10 Provision of Services for People with
Disabilities
The only
Government programmes in
In terms of gender,
2.3.8.4 Challenges and Comments
As to best practice,
health services have developed remarkably in
In order to more fully
recognize best practice in future reports it would be most helpful if Member
States could outline more clearly the state of health care in their
region. While this information was
provided in some Member States reports, comparison will be facilitate if all
States could report.
2.3.8.4.1 Health Services
· How many district,
primary and referral hospitals are there in the country? How many community clinics and/or health
posts exist? How many of these medical
facilities offer maternity services?
· How far does the average
citizen have to travel to access medical care?
· Are there any services
which are provided free of charge and under what circumstances?
· How many doctors per
person are there in the country?
· What are the national
statistics regarding: maternal mortality, HIV and AIDS, ARV access,
tuberculosis, malaria rates, other local medical issues?
· Is the
2.3.8.4.2 HIV, AIDS and STIs
· What is the national life
expectancy after initiation of ARVs?
What is the national life expectancy without ARV therapy?
· What is the number of
pregnant mothers accessing or requiring ARVs?
· Are paediatric ARVs
available?
· Does the
· Is HIV testing provided
free of charge? Does the
· Please speak to the
situation of STIs in the
· What kinds of services
are offered to orphans and vulnerable children? What are the costs of these various services?
2.3.8.4.3 Family Planning
· What is the average cost
of various family planning methods: the male condom, female condom, birth
control pill, etc? What is the national
contraceptive prevalence rate?
· What is the national
fertility rate?
· Does the state offer
abortion services under certain conditions?
Has the legalization of abortion been a matter of discussion at
political levels?
· Has there been any work
done in preventing or educating citizens about traditional practices that may
compound the HIV and AIDS epidemic?
· What are the laws
surrounding sterilization? Is spousal
and client consent required? Is consent
required for both men and women to access sterilization procedures?
2.3.8.4.4 Provision of Services for People with Disabilities
· What kinds of information
are available on the local population of people with disabilities? Is this information gender
disaggregated?
· What types of policies,
programmes or projects are currently in place to assist and advocate for people
with disabilities? Are these policies,
programmes and projects gender sensitive?
· Are there any
organisations of women with disabilities advocating for the empowerment of
women with disabilities and working to improve the standards of living for
women with disabilities? Are these
organisations supported by the government in any way?
H.9 Taking urgent measures to
prevent and deal with the increasing levels of violence against women and
children
2.3.9 Violence Against Women and Children
2.3.9.1 General Overview
All Member States
reporting have pointed to a continued increase in cases of violence against
women and children. It seems that
despite all of the innovative strategies adopted by Member States, the gendered
power relations in society continue to result in frequent incidences of
violence.
Daily women in
The report from
Violence against women
and children in
Table 2.3.9.1.1
|
Year |
Number of deceased person by sex |
Total |
|
|
Male |
Female |
||
|
2003 |
8 |
46 |
54 |
|
2004 |
4 |
52 |
56 |
|
2005 |
12 |
73 |
85 |
|
2006 (Jan – 4 June 2006) |
2 |
28 |
30 |
|
Perpetrators (Male only) |
26 |
||
|
11 arrested |
15 committed suicide |
||
Source:
Like
Table 2.3.9.1.2
as Reported by Region, 2002-2005 Cases
of Rape, 2005
|
|
Adults |
Juveniles |
|
||
|
Month |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Totals |
|
January |
51 |
6 |
22 |
1 |
80 |
|
February |
40 |
4 |
29 |
3 |
76 |
|
March |
48 |
2 |
24 |
1 |
75 |
|
April |
44 |
6 |
37 |
1 |
88 |
|
May |
33 |
4 |
20 |
0 |
57 |
|
June |
35 |
4 |
21 |
1 |
61 |
|
July |
47 |
4 |
29 |
0 |
80 |
|
August |
34 |
6 |
18 |
0 |
58 |
|
September |
58 |
5 |
32 |
1 |
96 |
|
October |
47 |
1 |
48 |
1 |
97 |
|
November |
50 |
3 |
33 |
3 |
89 |
|
December |
49 |
1 |
34 |
0 |
84 |
|
Total |
536 |
45 |
347 |
12 |
941 |
|
Regions |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Caprivi |
34 |
30 |
25 |
25 |
|
Erongo |
67 |
72 |
74 |
56 |
|
Hardap |
43 |
58 |
77 |
71 |
|
Karas |
47 |
48 |
59 |
55 |
|
Kavango |
40 |
47 |
48 |
58 |
|
Khomas |
174 |
161 |
180 |
154 |
|
|
28 |
33 |
28 |
52 |
|
Ohangwena |
50 |
77 |
73 |
111 |
|
Omaheke |
52 |
58 |
77 |
76 |
|
Omusati |
23 |
44 |
55 |
55 |
|
Oshana |
107 |
118 |
100 |
68 |
|
Oshikoto |
53 |
47 |
51 |
48 |
|
Otjozondjupa |
45 |
68 |
68 |
102 |
|
TOTAL |
763 |
861 |
915 |
931 |
Table 2.3.9.1.4
|
Years |
Type of Violence |
|
||||
|
Rape |
Harassments |
Battering |
Sodomy |
Killings of Old Women |
Total |
|
|
2000 |
3,116 |
371 |
345 |
28 |
371 |
4231 |
|
2001 |
3,444 |
678 |
432 |
27 |
405 |
4986 |
|
2002 |
3,504 |
548 |
604 |
35 |
388 |
5079 |
|
2003 |
3,089 |
592 |
698 |
30 |
308 |
4717 |
|
TOTAL |
13,153 |
2,189 |
2,079 |
120 |
1,472 |
19,013 |
2.3.9.2 What measures have been adopted?
Many Member
States exemplify best practice in the implementation of economic empowerment
programmes. Only when women know that they can financially maintain a minimum
standard of living will they be truly free to leave an abusive situation. In addition to this the establishment of
shelters for women and children who are survivors of violence or vulnerable to
violence will also make escape more feasible.
While
In addition to this, the
Kingdom has initiated multiple campaigns to educate people about violence
against women and children. From the
Gender Based Violence Campaign, the 16 Days of Activism and Happy Valentine’s
Day, it is clear that
Gender-based violence has
been given special attention in
1. The Men as Partners initiatives respond to
the global demand and also to the intrinsic local need to raise awareness and
enhance male participation and involvement in all matters related to women and
family. It is comprised of 4 main
components: Medical Session, Educational Session, Individual Counselling and
Entertain to Educate.
2. Zero
Tolerance Clubs have been set up in three regions comprising representatives of
various community based organisations with the view of involving the community
to combat domestic violence. Members of these clubs act as watchdogs to ensure
that their respective localities are violence free.
3. The
Oasis Association provides opportunities for victims of domestic violence to
meet as a group, share experiences, conduct activities for self-help and
welfare with a view to building self-confidence. This process is facilitated
with the regular intervention of psychologists through counselling and group therapy. Over and above group therapy, additional
activities are organized to promote positive thinking and optimistic outlooks
for survivors.
4. Recognizing
the fact that violence in the family is a national problem, which is affecting
members of families of all classes, cultures and ages, the Partnership against
Family Violence Committee was set up (2004) to enlist and consolidate
collaboration with other stakeholders.
Clearly
The Namibian Government
has instituted a Women and Child Protection Unit that deals with violence
against women and children. This Unit was established in 1993 and it has since
been decentralized in the regions. Currently, there are 15 Women and Child
Protection Units with the purpose of handling, detecting and investigating all
cases under these enacted laws: Combating of Rape Act (2000), Combating of
Domestic Violence Act (2003), Criminal Procedure Act (1977) (and the amendment
regarding vulnerable witnesses), and the Children’s Act 33 (1960). The Unit is intended
to make it easier for women and children who experience violence to come to the
Police. In addition to the Police, other
staff members from different institutions such as social workers, doctors and
psychologists are involved as stakeholders in helping victims with serious
physical, emotional and sexual abuses resulting from violence of this nature.
Clearly, there will not be full reporting of violence until women and children
feel that justice services will respond to reports in a receptive manner. While Table 3.9.1.3 presents an alarming
account of numerous rapes in
In
1. The National Crime Prevention Strategy (1996)
was established to address the fragmented approach of crime prevention by the
Criminal Justice System Departments.
This Strategy provides a coordinated and integrated approach to the
administration of Justice while placing violence against women and children
amongst the national priority crimes. It further integrates the response to
violence against women as it includes programming advocating for victim
empowerment, encouraging education, and addressing the trafficking of women and
children.
2. The Justice Crime Prevention Strategy (1999)
was established as an improvement on and with a view to broadening the focus of
the National Crime Prevention Strategy to include issues beyond the criminal
justice system. The main objective of the Strategy is to focus government
efforts and resources jointly in addressing the incidents of crime, public
disorder, inefficiencies in the justice system and all those aspects of society
that have the most negative effects on development. The Justice Crime
Prevention Strategy focuses on social crime prevention, effective border controls,
reduction of waiting time in the justice system, human resource development and
private-public partnerships. Again, this strategy aims to achieve an integrated
and efficient response to violence against women.
3.
4. The South African Law Reform Programme seeks
to strengthen the integrated response to violence against women. Law reform measures have given priority to
sexual offences, domestic violence, trafficking in women and children and child
pornography. The specific areas targeted
by the law include bail, sentencing, victim empowerment and integrated
responses.
Again
Zambia has recently
(2005) amended the penal code to institute stiffer punishment for perpetrators
of sexual harassment and the Government is in the process of reviewing the
Constitution to ensure that all discriminatory laws are removed. Also in line with best practice,
2.3.9.3 Challenges and Comments
It has been
reported that legal costs often prove prohibitive when women attempt to address
issues of violence officially. It is
important that Member States address this issue in order to make justice a
financial possibility for women. Reports
also indicate that medical costs can be problematic if medical records are
necessary for evidence in terms of rape cases.
There must be financial and/or legal aid made available to those
citizens most vulnerable to violence.
Another problem noted in
Member States reports is the lack of privacy and confidentiality in police
stations and court houses. More
generally, there have been reports of overall inhospitable environments when it
comes to the reporting and prosecution of violent crimes. If women and children are not made to feel
safe in reporting, then change can not be effected.
Once again
Member States have pointed to some gaps in the reporting framework, helping the
Secretariat to continuously update and revise the monitoring and evaluation
tools. In future there are some emerging
issues and important concerns that should be addressed by Member States when
reporting to the Secretariat. Some of
these issues and questions include:
· Does the
· Does the
· Has the
· Does the
· Is the
While it will be
exciting to see responses to these queries, it is also interested in obtaining
more information on physical, sexual and emotional violence again
children. While almost all Member States
meticulously reported on violence against women, the qualitative and
quantitative data regarding children was scarce. It is most important that this gap is
addressed in future reports.
In conclusion,
the SADC Secretariat notes the pioneering work being conducted at
2.4 Co-ordination and Collaboration
What has the National Gender Machinery been doing to work
together with other ministries and other gender stakeholders in the country
including Civil Society and International Co-operating Partners?
All Member States
reporting speak to the importance of collaboration with partnering
organizations. Only by working together
with strong coordination will the all gender stakeholders see true change and
development. In order to efficiently and effectively work
towards equality, we must improve collaboration among the various camps and
link agendas as we often share similar challenges and goals. Coordinated
advocacy can create global partnerships and improve the overall response to
women’s needs in the SADC Region.
Working
in isolation is not only counterproductive, but it can also be discouraging and
overwhelming. It unnecessarily drains
limited financial and human resources and squanders valuable opportunities to
fully involve communities and organizations that are invested in achieving
parallel goals. Most importantly, it
means missed opportunities to learn important lessons from one another.
In the future the SADC
Secretariat looks forward to gaining a clear picture of how the various Member
States negotiate partnerships with various stakeholders. How do these partnerships work? Are tasks delegated or is the work
voluntarily undertaken by various organizations? What circumstances are most conducive for
joint projects? How is monitoring and
evaluation negotiated? Understanding
best practice in terms of collaboration will go a long way towards creating
more effective partnerships in the SADC Region.
Provided collaboration is
properly coordinated, it can mean great things in terms of change in the
Region. At a community, national,
regional and international level, all efforts should be aimed towards a common
goal. With this type of support change
is inevitable.
The SADC
Secretariat is proud to be an important contact point for regional coordination
and collaboration. This report has
demonstrated the National Gender Machineries dedication to and investment in
collaboration. While many Member States
reported important work being conducted in collaboration with international
development partners, CSOs, NGOs, various local Government Ministries and other
invested groups, this collaboration must expand and build on positive
experiences from the past.
2.5 General Challenges
Development is
rarely effected without significant challenges, but it is how those problems
are addressed that really speaks to the resilience and determination of those
working for change. SADC Member States
have pointed to various regional strategies intended to address the challenges
faced in gender and development. Still
there are common hurdles that Member States seek collaboration in
overcoming.
Many Member States spoke
to the impact of inadequate participation of women in decision making.
The impact of the AIDS
pandemic within the SADC Region cannot be overemphasized.
Namibia clearly summarized the
challenges facing the women’s movement in the Member State and the entire SADC
Region: lack of financial commitment to women’s affairs, increasing levels of
gender based violence, a lack of social workers, increasing numbers of orphans
and vulnerable children, under representation of women in formal employment, a
lack of access to formal health facilities, patriarchal traditions and unequal
power relations. According to various
Member States, facing such immense challenges can make gender equity seem an
unattainable goal.
While many of these
challenges are shared problems, individual countries are experiencing distinct
challenges as well. While
Once again, the SADC
Secretariat recognizes the role it must play in providing a coordinated
response to these challenges. Together,
as a region, change will be realized.
2.6 Conclusion & Way Forward
The SADC Secretariat
appreciates cooperation received from Member States during the reporting
period. Clearly Member States are working tireless in improving the status and
living conditions of women in the SADC Region.
The challenge for the SADC Region now is in the development of coherent,
forward looking and sustainable policies and programs that are sensitive to the
changing needs and priorities of all Member States. Secondly there is need to
ensure the implementation of policies, declarations that Member States have
committed to in a coordinated fashion.
There is a need to synergize all efforts and network with multiple
partners to improve the status of women.
One of the most effective
ways of improving the status and well-being of women is by ensuring their full,
equal and effective representation and participation in decision-making at all
levels of political, economic and social life. This approach promotes and
protects women's human rights while allowing society to benefit from the
diverse experiences, talents and capabilities of all of its members. The
Beijing Platform for Action includes a strong statement calling for Governments
to ensure women's equal access to and full participation in power structures
and decision making. It also calls for Governments to increase women's capacity
to participate in decision making and leadership. The Platform recognizes that
women's equal participation in decision making and political life is vital for
the advancement of women. Women remain in a position of inequality compared
with men partly because their situation, needs and concerns are not considered
in decision making if women are not present at the table. Only through clear
mechanisms and instruments requiring Governments to place women in positions of
decision making will we see an increase in women’s participation in high
ranking positions politically, economically and socially. Again Member States need to actively advocate
for a minimum 50% women at all levels of decision making. Clear measures for affirmative action and
other strategies must be established.
The SADC region must deal
with the progressively higher rate of poverty amongst women. With limited access to education and
training, socially restricted career choices, the expected role of caregiver
and the gendered division of labour in the household, releasing women from
poverty is a significant task. Women's
poverty is directly related to the absence of economic opportunities and
autonomy, lack of access to economic resources (including credit and land) and
their minimal participation in the decision making process. Poverty can force
women into situations in which they are vulnerable to sexual exploitation,
health problems and violence. This
Progress Report clearly demonstrates that all Member States must commit to
strengthening women’s economic capacity, thus empowering women and allowing
them to fully engage in the process of regional economic, political and social
development. When legislation is enacted
ensuring women’s access to resources, that legislation must be translated into
real changes in women’s lives. When
customary law states that married women can not have land in their name, those
laws must be challenged. Poverty can
only be overcome when laws are formed, when women are informed and when the
destructive aspects of culture are reformed.
Violence against women is
an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and
peace. Violence against women both violates and denies women the enjoyment of
their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The long-standing failure to
protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against
women must be a matter of concern to all Member States. Violence against women
is a demonstration of the historically unequal power relations between men and
women. Violence against women is exacerbated by social pressures, notably
women's lack of access to legal information and literacy, the lack of laws
effectively prohibiting violence against women, inadequate efforts to promote
awareness of and enforce existing laws, and the absence of educational and
other means to address the causes and consequences of violence. In all
societies women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological
abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture. The SADC Region is no exception. While there are many projects underway in the
Region at the moment, more needs to be done.
Member States must particularly work to develop, implement, monitor and
evaluate programmes that focus on eliminating negative aspects of customary and
statutory laws and practices which infringe on the rights of women. The SADC Region is experiencing progress in
this area, but more work must be done to make women and children safe in
Clearly, if collaboration
and coordination are to be important aspects of the SADC Regional plan for
gender and development, Ministers of Gender and Women’s Affairs must begin
meeting on a regular basis. The
importance of regular communication can not be overstated. In addition to this the creation of a SADC
Gender Forum could be an important step forward. This Forum would be an opportunity for Member
States to share experiences, ideas, challenges and accomplishments throughout
the region. This would represent the
gathering of a wealth of knowledge, understanding and expertise that would be a
formidable force for gender equity in the Region.
Member States are
encouraged to continue collecting gender disaggregated data in the region. Furthermore, Member States are encouraged in
expanding data collection. The collection
and analysis of this data is an important tool in monitoring and evaluation. Only through this type of observation can we
truly appreciate best practice and understand those projects that offer
tangible results.
Finally, the importance
of mainstreaming gender in all regional and national policies programmes and
plans cannot be over emphasized. Gender
mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. It
involves ensuring that gender perspectives and attention to the goal of gender
equality are central to all activities including policy development, research,
advocacy, legislation, and budgeting. In
all aspects of planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes and
projects gender must be considered. Gender is a key element which must be
central to socio-economic programming as it highlights various constraints
faced by men and women which are a result of their social status and bargaining
power in society. The long term
objective is that attention to gender equality will pervade all policies,
strategies and activities so that women and men influence, participate in, and
benefit equitably from all interventions.
While SADC Member States seem to clearly understand the revolutionary
implications, they also recognize the challenges that gender mainstreaming
efforts encounter. More work must be
done in order for the SADC Region to experience the full benefits of successful
gender mainstreaming.
In conclusion, the SADC
Secretariat would once again like to express sincere gratitude to all Member
States who submitted reports. This conscientious and thorough reporting on the
SADC Declaration of Gender and Development shows a real commitment to effecting
change in the SADC Region.
[1] Key for all tables
---- Information not relevant to this
* Information not reported
---- Although reports were submitted, information was missing or not
applicable to the specific member state.
[3] Directors
[4] Heads Of Departments
[5] Overall women
representation in Senior Management of the Public Service is 30%. No breakdowns given per category.
[6] Source: Labour Force Survey 1999
[7] Provisional estimates
[8] Source: Employment Equity Commission: 2004/2005
[9] Source: CSO LCMS (IV) 2004
[10] Source: 1999 Indicator Monitoring Labour Force Survey: Central Statistics Office – July 2000
[11]Interestingly, at the
primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education,
[12] It is important to remember that even when education is offered free of charge, many families are still burdened with many fees including: text books, uniforms, school maintenance fees, tutoring costs, etc.
[13] It is important to note
that
[14] The statistics reported
here have been derived from another source.
The Secretariat would like to encourage Member States to provide
internally generated statistics in future reports.