Southern African Development Community (SADC) recognizes gender equality as a fundamental human right and an integral part of regional integration, economic growth and social development. SADC is therefore committed to removing all forms of gender inequalities at the regional and national levels through a series of goals and actions derived from legally binding international, continental and regional instruments. This SADC Gender Policy has been developed to provide a sound, authoritative, coherent and strategic mechanism for achieving the objectives of the Declaration. It is a document which identifies gender related problems in the region and indicates the strategic actions necessary to address them. The SGP is intended to facilitate implementation of the SADC gender commitments as outlined in the Regional Gender Policy Implementation Action Plan. The SGP contains statements and strategies for achieving the policy objectives and principles. The SGP also outlines the implementation structure, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and an implementation plan. Its Vision is of a region where women, men, girls and boys have equal opportunities to participate freely as equal partners in all spheres of public and private life, including in all decision making processes, and have equal access to and control over productive resources and services, as well as contribute to and benefit from all development processes and initiatives. Its Mission is to achieve gender equality and equity in the socio-economic, legal, religious, cultural and political processes of regional integration and cooperation among Member States by developing and implementing strategies and interventions, including capacity building, that recognises and acknowledges the needs and interests of women in the eradication of gender inequality and poverty in the region.
2007-01-01