Beyond the numbers: Does a high number of women in political corridors translate into delivery of Sustainable Development Goals 5 on gender equality and 16 on peace and security in the SADC region?

Abstract

abstractThere is still widespread relegation of women to lower and traditionally feminine areas of political responsibility at most SADC national parliaments. This briefing explores the question of whether, and in what ways, women’s presence in politics contributes to the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) socio-economic and political stability and to the security of the SADC region. It builds upon an analysis of the legal and policy framework on affirmative action in politics and a record of the gender distribution of parliamentarians in three SADC member states. The ruling parties of Namibia and South Africa have adopted affirmative action policies aimed at a more equitable gender balance, including what is called ‘ZEBRA’ listing, where men and women are placed alternately in electoral candidate lists, while Zimbabwe has amended its constitution to cater for gender equality in political governance. Member states should be urged to achieve gender parity in political governance and decision-making positions and to meet the challenge of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 16, which deals with peace, justice and strong institutions. It is argued that in order to achieve these two SDGs, strong and effective structures are needed to support women in their efforts to gain both increased and more meaningful representation in the parliaments of SADC member states. The case is made that gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to achieving the SDGs. Notwithstanding the fact that gender equality has a stand-alone SDG intended to cut across all 17 goals, it is recommended that support, monitoring and evaluation systems be established to provide evidence of how an increased proportion of women in political governance could contribute positively to the achievement of peace, justice and strong institutions in the SADC Region.