Legislated gender sensitivity: SADC's draft protocol on gender and development

SADC's draft protocol on gender and development

By: Ruiters, Michele
Published in: Global Insight: a focus on current issues, Issue 72/August 2007

GENDERED ANALYSES of political, economic and social processes in southern Africa show that more women than men are infected by HIV and AIDS, more girls than boys will remain un(der)educated, an unjustifiable number of women will die in childbirth, and girl children will grow up to occupy lower-paid and insecure jobs. Violence against women and children in southern Africa is particularly pernicious due to socioeconomic and cultural practices that discriminate against women and make them vulnerable to physical and economic
abuse. Women occupy second-class citizen status in their own countries, and often battle to be heard in the public and private spheres. In an attempt to redress these inequities, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has joined the African Union (AU) and other multilateral organisations in an effort to eradicate gender inequalities and gender stereotypes on the continent.

This review examines the draft SADC Protocol on Gender and Development of 2006, identifies
some of its shortcomings, and suggests how they could be addressed. While the protocol – and SADC in general – needs more ‘teeth’, it also argues that legislation alone cannot create a region that is gender-aware and sensitive, and that behaviour changes in society cannot be legislated but need to emerge organically as a result of leadership by example, and the use of the media and prominent figures to promote gender awareness.

(http://www.igd.org.za/images/Documents/Global%20Insight/global%20insight%2072.pdf)