SADC tackles gender equality
The ministry of defence yesterday launched a two-week Southern African Development Community (SADC) training programme to train trainers on gender mainstreaming and dealing with sexual- and gender-based violence.
Deputy minister of defence Billy Mwaningange said the course shows the region's commitment to join the international community in integrating gender policy, women empowerment, and the protection of human rights into national and regional policy frameworks which will contribute positively to global and regional peace, and security.
Mwaningange highlighted that the programme, which is aimed at training trainers, will promote in-depth discussions on key issues concerning gender-based violence and gender mainstreaming in relation to peacekeeping operations, which the respective SADC armed forces are expected to deal with from time to time.
The training programme is geared towards equipping trainers and providing them with the necessary skills to enhance the implementation of regional and national plans of action on women, peace and the security agenda.
He noted that recently, Namibia deployed a “fully fledged female police contingent in the Darfur region”, where they performed well and contributed to regional peacekeeping efforts.
He highlighted that the landmark UN Resolution 1325 calls for gender mainstreaming into peace and security efforts and requires the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping, post-conflict resolutions and in development programmes.
The resolution also calls on all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict.
The resolution provides a number of important operational mandates, with implications for member states and the entities of the United Nations system.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Deputy minister of defence Billy Mwaningange said the course shows the region's commitment to join the international community in integrating gender policy, women empowerment, and the protection of human rights into national and regional policy frameworks which will contribute positively to global and regional peace, and security.
Mwaningange highlighted that the programme, which is aimed at training trainers, will promote in-depth discussions on key issues concerning gender-based violence and gender mainstreaming in relation to peacekeeping operations, which the respective SADC armed forces are expected to deal with from time to time.
The training programme is geared towards equipping trainers and providing them with the necessary skills to enhance the implementation of regional and national plans of action on women, peace and the security agenda.
He noted that recently, Namibia deployed a “fully fledged female police contingent in the Darfur region”, where they performed well and contributed to regional peacekeeping efforts.
He highlighted that the landmark UN Resolution 1325 calls for gender mainstreaming into peace and security efforts and requires the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping, post-conflict resolutions and in development programmes.
The resolution also calls on all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict.
The resolution provides a number of important operational mandates, with implications for member states and the entities of the United Nations system.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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