The Policy provides a strong situation analysis and outlines key priority areas in the region both at the Partner State and at the secretariat with the aim of promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It also provides mechanisms that provide a platform for accountability and serves as a tool for results oriented measures for gender equality and women’s empowerment.The policy takes cognizance of the fact that Partner states have their own national Gender policies and other legal frameworks to enhance gender equality and affirmative action at the national level. Thus harmonization, standardization tracking and reporting are the key driving factors in the EAC Gender policy. The vision of the Policy is that women and men, boys and girls living a quality life in an inclusive community while the mission is to achieve gender equality and equity through gender responsive sustainable development. The goal of the Policy is an inclusive community which guarantees equal rights and opportunities for women and men, boys and girls. The Policy provides for 6 objectives to be achieved through contribution and cooperation of different state parties and stakeholders as follow: Promote the development, coordination, harmonization and reporting on gender equality commitments by the Community; b) Strengthen the mainstreaming of gender concerns in all sectors of the planning and budgetary processes of the EAC Organs and Institutions and Partner States; c) Promote women’s participation in political and decision-making at all levels; d) Promote equal access to and control of productive resources and participation in regional trade; e) Strengthen measures that prevent and respond to Gender- based violence and other harmful cultural practices; f) Enhance processes that include women in peace and security at all levels of prevention, protection, participation, relief and recovery. The Policy is drafted in 9 Sections as follow: Introduction and Background (1); Situational Analysis (2); Rational for the EAC Gender Policy (3); Strategic Direction of the Policy (4); Priority Action Areas (5); Implementation Arrangement for the EAC Gender Policy (6); Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (7); Allocation of Resources (8); and Conclusion (10).
2018-05-01