THE government of Zimbabwe, as the current SADC Chair, will be hosting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Gender and Women Affairs meeting from June 24 to June 27.
With over 150 delegates from SADC Member states expected, including the Ministers of Gender and Women Affairs, senior government officials from member states, and the SADC Secretariat, the gathering is scheduled to drive the regional momentum on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The host, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa outlined some of the key areas that will steer deliberations.
“The SADC Ministers of Gender and Women Affairs meeting presents an opportunity for the region to collectively deliberate on ways to address the challenges we face, and to share best practices that can foster gender equality and women’s empowerment in the region.
“Member States will have an opportunity to review the implementation of the gender equality and women’s empowerment commitments made in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, proffering new insights, renewed commitments, and promoting accountability towards the implementation of the framework. Much work has already been done in the region, guided by the following additional frameworks,” she said.
Highlighting Zimbabwe’s progress on gender equality and empowerment of women, Senator Mutsvangwa noted the commitment shown by the government in removing barriers to women’s economic and social participation.
“To accelerate progress in our country, the Ministry has developed several policies and strategies for promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women, which I hope to share with member states during the conference. Chief among the policies are the National Gender Policy, the Strategy for Women in Leadership and Decision-Positions, the UNSCR 1325 National Action Plan, the High-Level Political Compact on Ending GBV, the National Strategy for Preventing and Addressing Gender-Based Violence, and the Broad-Based Women Economic Empowerment Framework. Despite these interventions, gaps still remain,” she added.
The SADC Gender Ministers’ gathering provides an opportunity for Ministers of Gender and Women Affairs in the region to review progress made in the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and related Frameworks for the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women.
The discussions will be guided by the broader 2025 SADC theme, “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC.”
The theme aligns with the objectives of the Ministers of Gender and Women Affairs meeting, as it provides a framework for discussing how innovative approaches can enhance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the context of economic growth.
The deliberations will result in strengthened collaboration among Member States, providing for the development of concrete policy recommendations and actionable strategies that can be implemented at national and regional levels, contributing to measurable progress in gender equality.
