09 Jul 2024

SADC Secretariat recently developed Gender Statistics Strategy 2023-2030, SADC head of gender, Ms Phemelo Maiketso said at the Sixth Joint Africa Gender Statistics Forum in Gaborone, Monday.

She said the strategy was prompted by increased demand for gender statistics in the region, adding that the workshop  also presented a strategic approach to strengthen capacity to produce, use and harmonise gender statistics in the SADC region.

She said the strategy aimed to respond to and support evidence-based gender responsive regional initiatives to meet gender data requirements of global conventions. 

Additionally, she said the strategy focused on three themes; Institutional Strengthening and Sustainability of Gender Statistics in SADC member states, Harmonization of Standards, Concepts and Definitions and Methodology of Gender Statistics to meet Data needs of the SADC Gender Protocol, and  Building Capacity for Production and use of Gender Statistics.

Ms Maiketso said support from World Bank and UN Women continued to create platforms and opportunities for bringing together producers and users of gender statistics in SADC member states.

Furthermore, she said the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commitment to leave no one behind provided a unique opportunity to address gender inequalities, build resilient interventions and increased the availability of gender related statistics. “Let us ride on this opportunity and commit to finding a suitable way to strengthen our data systems,” she said.

She said statistics and data were an important part of development agenda and in achieving the UN Agenda 2030. 

However, she said,  data gaps identified in the SADC region and in Africa robbed them of making informed decisions in addressing development challenges as such gaps led to missed opportunities for creating effective policies.

“Due to lack of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics, it’s impossible to have a full understanding of women and men’s roles, status and contributions in development across sectors, especially now, when we are left with less than a decade to the end of 2030 Agenda,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Ms Bridget John said special measures continued to be adopted to address specific issues impeding attainment of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls moving towards 2030 agenda.

She said monitoring gender indicators over time could track progress towards achieving gender equality goals enshrined in national and international frameworks. She also  noted that government  had adopted several measures such as enacting laws that introduced stiff penalties  as well as establishing specialised Gender Based Violence (GBV) courts and setting structures such as District Gender Committees to provide guidance on gender responsive policies and programs at community level.

The forum attracted 32 African countriesand was run under the theme: Pulling Together for Gender Statistics. ends