SADC summit: many challenges ahead for gender equality/Sommet de la SADC: beaucoup de defis attendent l'egalite des genres.

The Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance on 19 August 2005 welcomed the decision by leaders at the just-ended SADC summit to endorse the African Union position on gender parity in all areas of decision-making.

But the Alliance expressed disappointment at the failure by Heads of State to seize the first opportunity open to them following this decision to "walk the talk" by appointing a woman to one of the two top positions in the SADC secretariat despite competent women having applied.

The final communique is also silent on the recommendation made by the Council of Ministers that the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development be elevated to a Protocol for Accelerating Gender Equality.

Vowing to continue the campaign for a binding sub-regional instrument on gender equality, the Alliance, that comprises ten NGOs from around the region, said the outcome of the summit underscores the fact that while "many milestones have been achieved, the struggle for gender equality is still far from over."

In a statement, the Alliance noted that the endorsement of the AU position that failed to receive the support of leaders at their summit last year means that the target of thirty percent women in decision-making contained in the SADC Declaration has now been raised to fifty percent, but no timeframe has been set for achieving this.

The Alliance, whose slogan is "50/50 by 2020", said it would continue to lobby for incremental targets and action plans to be developed by each country, with an ultimate target of the fifty percent being achieved by 2020.

While the Alliance congratulated the new executive secretary Tomas Salmao of Mozambique and his deputy Joao Caholo of Angola on their appointment, it expressed disappointment that the regional body had failed to lead by example in ensuring gender balance within its own top decision-making structures. Only one out of the seven senior management positions in SADC is held by a woman.

The Alliance also stressed that achieving gender equality extends beyond getting women into positions of power. Many more targets are required for ensuring that gender equality is achieved in the economic, social, constitutional and legal spheres as well. This underscores the recommendation made by the Council of Ministers that leaders adopt the principle of a comprehensive Protocol for Accelerating Gender Equality that would bring together all existing international and regional targets and commitments, and enhance these where...