Parallel Event at 61st Session of the UN Commission of the Status of Women on the
theme of Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work:
Title: Partnership between Governments and CSOs in localising the SDGs to advance the
Economic Empowerment and Rights of Africa women and girls
Justification:
Africa in general and Southern Africa in particular have strong policy frameworks on
empowerment of women and girls, particularly the Protocol to the African Charter on Human
and People’s Rights on the rights of Women (Maputo Protocol) and the SADC Protocol
(Protocol) on Gender and Development, a unique sub-regional instrument bringing together
global and African commitments to gender equality which was updated in line with the
SDGs, Beijing plus Twenty and Africa Agenda 2063.
The Protococl has been strengthened to take forward the economic empowerment of
women agenda which was not fully advanced by the 2015 deadline of the 2008 Protocol
.Research carried out by the SADC Gender Protocol Alliance shows that significant
inequalities between women and men persists in many countries across the region with
women poorly represented in economic decision making and having limited access to
economic resources. Globally the World Economic Forum has predicted that the gender gap
will not close entirely until 2186. A report produced by Oxfam in January 2017 shows that
just eight men own the same wealth as the poorest half of the world who are mostly
women. It is therefore important to explore how the 2030 agenda for Sustainable
Development together with existing African and international frameworks on advancing
gender equality and women’s human rights can accelerate progress on closing the
economic gender gap in Africa.
Objectives:
1. To increase understanding of the economic status of women in Africa. This includes
raising awareness on the strengthened provisions on economic justice of the
reviewed Protocol and how they can be used to close the gender gap.
2. Allow representatives of CSOs and Governments to share their perspectives on how
to overcome the obstacles women face in the changing world of work...
3. To strengthen the collaboration between African governments and CSOs especially
Women’s Rights Organisations in advancing women’s economic empowerment and
rights in line with 2030 agenda and African Regional instruments. he event will
engage the audience in identifying ways forward to ensure an enabling environment
for the economic advancement of women in Africa
Organizers/co-sponsors: Malawi Government, the SADC Gender Protocol Alliance and African
Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) and NGO Gender
Coordination Network (NGOGCN)
Date:
March 15, 2017 Time:
Venue:
UN Headquarters Conference room
11. 30 am- 12.45 pm
Panellists:
Dr, Mary Shawa, Principal Secretary in the ministry of gender, disability,
children and social welfare, Dinah Musindarwezo Executive Director, FEMNET, Lucia
Makamure, Advocacy and Network Building Coordinator, Gender Links.
Moderator:
Alliance
Mrs. Kaliya Emma, Chairperson of FEMNET and SADC Gender Protocol
For further information please contact: Mrs Emma Kaliya, [email protected]