SALUTATIONS

• Honourable Members of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement and Youth Development
• The Secretary General of the SADC PF, Ms Boemo Sekgoma
• Ms Anne Githuku, UN Women South Africa Country Office Representative
• Ms Chama Mwandakesa, Women’s Rights Programme Manager, Oxfam Zambia
• Ms Betty Zulu, Committee Secretary
• Representatives of Civil Society Organisations
• Representative of the Media Organisations
• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my honour and privilege to welcome you to this very important meeting of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement and Youth Development. As a Committee that has the mandate to consider issues of women empowerment and advancement, we cannot avoid the matter of unpaid care and domestic work. This is why our theme for this meeting is “Unpaid Care and Domestic Work: Why Should Parliament Care.”

Honourable Members, Distinguished Guests

Women empowerment has, in the recent years, become a key focus in the public sector to eradicate poverty. Women empowerment and the autonomy of women and the improvement of their social, political, economic and health status is a highly important end in itself. However, this empowerment and autonomy is hampered by so many factors, one of which is the issue of Unpaid Care and Domestic Work (UCDW).

Honourable Members, Distinguished Guests

Women and girls in low income countries are responsible for a disproportionate amount of unpaid care work. It is disconcerting that in 2018, 606 million women of working age declared themselves to be unavailable for employment because of unpaid care work while only 41 million men were inactive for the same reason.

This undermines women’s well-being, fosters financial dependence and limits options for decent work, to a point of restricting women to low status. Unpaid Care and Domestic Work has been identified as an obstacle to women’s empowerment and advancement, and as Parliament, it is time that we start to recognise and value it. 

Honourable Members

The Unpaid care work carried out by women and girls often goes unnoticed and unrecognised in the calculations of a country’s economy. It is not included in labour surveys or in Gross Domestic Products (GDPs). Due to this fact, the realities of women’s and girls’ work burdens are excluded from data that inform policy making.

Distinguished Guests and Partners

SADC member states are committed to ensuring that time-use surveys are conducted and policy measures that promote shared responsibility between men and women within household and family adopted. We are committed to recognising and valuing unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies pursuant to Article 16 of the SADC PF Protocol on Gender and Development. However, this objective can only be achieved with your assistance.

As Members of Parliament we have the opportunity and influence to provide insight into the importance of addressing issues of gender equality and unpaid care work and catalyse and strengthen effective national and regional mechanisms that can develop policy responses to this type of work. 

Honourable Members

We need to make unpaid care work and unpaid work a dialogue issue with relevant stakeholders and promote the systematic use of gender responsive budgeting as a method to analyse this type of work, and incorporate it into the development agenda. We need to identify policy responses and put in place budget lines for implementing policies and ensure that any labour laws, labour markets and social security programmes and labour force surveys include unpaid care and domestic work.

Honourable Members, Distinguished Guests

By recognising, reducing and redistributing unpaid care work, time will be freed for women and girls to engage in formal jobs, and socio-economic and political activities. For example, ensuring that affordable and quality care services, alternative fuels such as solar, biogas and wind energy, and piped water are available, women’s economic empowerment will be promoted.

My earnest appeal is to my female parliamentarians, who face many similar care issues to be motivated to influence other parliamentarians on unpaid care and domestic work so that we start taking it out of the private and family sphere and positioning it as a human rights-based issue.   

My profound gratitude goes to the Secretary General, Ms. Boemo Sekgoma and her dedicated team from the Secretariat for a job well-done in facilitating this virtual meeting. I wish to urge the honourable Members of the Committee to actively participate in this engagement. 

I THANK YOU.

Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement and Youth Development, Wednesday, 14th April, 2021

PRESENT

• Peete Peete Ramoqai Lesotho
• Marie Jeanne d’Arc MASY GOULAMALY Madagascar
• Hon Maria do Carmo do Nascimento Angola
• Talita Monnakgotla Botswana
• Lonnie Chijere Phiri Angola
• Nkhensani Kate Bilankulu                                                                South Africa
• Busisiwe Dlamini Eswatini
• Ponde Chunga Mecha Zambia
• Goodlucky Kwaramba Zimbabwe

ABSENT WITH APOLOGY

• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Seychelles
• Tanzania

IN ATTENDANCE

Ms Boemo Sekgoma                                 Secretary General, SADC PF Secretariat

Ms Agnes M Lilungwe                               Namibia

Ms Zanele Mazibuko                                 South Africa

Mr Ivan R Mouenkoula                              South Africa

Mr Sheuneni Kurasha                                SADC PF Secretariat

Ms Paulina Kanguatjivi                              SADC PF Secretariat

Ms Nomonde Nkayi                                   Mozambique

Ms Mompolo Mosheti                                Botswana

Mr Ferdinand Paiva                                   South Africa

Ms Veronica C Ribeira                               Angola

Mr Becas Mateus                                      Mozambique

Ms Betty Zulu                                            Zambia

Ms Soatsara M D Benandrasana              Madagascar

Ms Sharon Nyirongo                                  Zambia

Mrs Edna Zgambo                                     Zambia

Mr Chawapiwa Mahlaya                            Botswana

The meeting was called to order at 09:20 hours

AGENDA

• Credentials of Delegates and Apologies.
• Adoption of Agenda.
• Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson.
• Consideration of Minutes of the Previous Meeting Held at the Southern Sun Hotel, O. R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa on 31^st October, 2019, ahead of the 46^th Plenary Assembly Session.
• Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Previous Meeting held at Southern Sun Hotel, O.R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa on 31^st October, 2019, ahead of the 46^th Plenary Assembly Session.
• Presentation discussion of the theme “Strengthening Parliaments’ Response in Eradicating Child Marriage During and Post COVID 19”
• Any Other Business.

CREDENTIALS OF DELEGATES AND APOLOGIES 

Quorum for the meeting was duly constituted and the meeting proceeded.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

On a motion by Zimbabwe and seconded by Botswana, the agenda was adopted without amendments.

WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON 

In his welcoming remarks, the Chairperson expressed his profound gratitude to the SADC Parliamentary Forum for creating a platform for national parliaments to continue engaging despite the unprecedentedly uncertain times of COVID 19 and emphasised the pivotal role parliamentarians had to play in eradicating child marriage in the SADC region by ensuring the establishment and implementation of a robust legal and policy framework. 

The Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement and Youth Development met under the theme “Strengthening Parliaments’ Response in Eradicating Child Marriage During and Post COVID 19” whereupon the Chairperson observed that child marriage was a serious human rights violation rooted in gender inequality, poverty and tradition. The Chairperson further observed that eradicating child marriage would require long term, sustainable action across many different sectors since the causes of the practice were multifaceted.

The Chairperson noted that child marriage in the SADC region had been greatly exacerbated by COVID 19 due to lockdowns, curfews, movement restriction, and school closures and implored parliamentarians to set the political agenda as opinion leaders on ending child marriage by working closely with traditional leaders, pass budgets, monitor implementation, and ensure accountability for both national and international commitments on eradicating child marriage during and post pandemic.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD AT THE SOUTHERN SUN HOTEL, O. R TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ON 31^ST OCTOBER, 2019, AHEAD OF THE 46^TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION

On a motion by Zimbabwe and seconded by Zambia, the minutes of the previous meeting were adopted, without amendments.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD AT SOUTHERN SUN HOTEL, O.R TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ON 31^ST OCTOBER, 2019, AHEAD OF THE 46^TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

PRESENTATION ON THE AFRICA COMMON POSITION ON ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE – DR NYARADZAYI GUMBONZVANDA, AFRICAN UNION GOODWILL AMBASSADOR ON ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE

Dr Gumbonzvanda thanked the SADC PF Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancementh3 and Youth Development and the SADC region for the leadership it had exhibited in the promotion and protection of the rights of children and informed the meeting that Africa had the highest prevalence of child marriage. She stated that it was pleasing that the efforts in Southern Africa were showing a reduction in numbers although the situation in Central Africa was still concerning.

The meeting heard that the African Union (AU) had in 2014 launched a campaign to end child marriage to implement further the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. This was upon the realisation that Agenda 2063 could not be achieved until issues confronting the continent, including gender inequality, disempowerment of girls, abuse and violation of the rights of the girl child were combated.

It was submitted that child marriage was a critical indicator that spoke to a range of violations of human rights and a range of development interventions that the African continent was yet to take. Therefore, the launch of the AU campaign and subsequent adoption in 2015 of the Africa Common Position on Ending Child Marriage was a step towards implementation, monitoring and prioritisation of resources on the continent towards these issues.

The presenter noted that most countries in the SADC region had already launched action plans and aligned the age of consent in the SADC Model Law on Ending Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage to their national legislations and this was why the model law fundamental in driving the implementation of the African Union campaign. She, however, emphasised the need to do more for all SADC states to follow suit.

Dr Gumbonzvanda declared that the AU recognised that there were interventions that needed to be undertaken by the Executive arms of Government with regard to delivering public service in health, education, employment, food security, access to justice and social services, but also recognised that Parliaments had the role to ensure that adequate and appropriate legislation to inform policy and national laws, particularly on child marriage were in place. She also pointed out that the AU recognised the role that human rights institutions had to play in the delivery of the commitment to ending child marriage, and it was in this regard that the African Union Commission on Human Rights and the African Union Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child adopted a Common Statement or joint recommendation on child marriage. Within the same framework, the AU had appointed a Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage to support the advocacy work, guide and support member states as well as to work with civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Special Rapporteur on Ending Child Marriage, who was part of the Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and a cluster of special mandate holders such as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women, Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security and the Special Envoy on Youth. 

The meeting was also informed that the role of civil society was critical in the work of the AU in driving the awareness, advocacy work and pushing for legislative reform and added that the AU had worked closely with a number of key partners, including Girls Not Brides and Plan International and other partners and donors working at continental and international level as well as UN agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  

The presenter informed the meeting that COVID 19 was an unprecedented crisis which had seen member states taking lock down measures on the most basic operations of life which impacted negatively on children, particularly the girl-child, in ways that no one had anticipated. The closure of schools had resulted in the increase of early pregnancies and child marriage, and its impact on education, livelihoods and employment was unparalleled. The AU through the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and other institutions engaged strongly around the impact that COVID 19 had on communities with the most critical discussions relating to livelihoods and the economy.  

The Members were informed that when COVID 19 first emerged, many African Parliaments were not in session. There was, therefore, no strong legislative voice to speak to the issue of resources and prioritisation of interventions that could not only prevent child marriage but also support and protect children already in marriage. In this vein, there was a gap in the legislative leadership in terms of emergency response.  The other gap regarded decisions which lay in the purview of Parliaments relating to resourcing COVID 19. It was observed that significant resources went to the health sector, and even within the health sector, certain issues critical to young people which impacted on child marriage were not prioritised. There were less services being offered on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV and maternal heath, considering that most women likely to die due to pregnancy-related complications were between fourteen and twenty-four years.  

The other area that was critical was that although many countries had social protection measures such as grants, food assistance or special support to young people, there was no sufficient focus on how to integrate issues around girls at risk or young women at risk of child marriage, teen moms or child-headed households. It was, therefore, very important that within these social protections measures, because these were big envelopes that Parliaments had oversight over, some should have been directed to cushioning young people, particularly girls, so that they did not resort to child marriage.

To conclude, the presenter talked about the role of Parliaments with regard to borrowing. The presenter mentioned that as AU Goodwill Ambassador, and as advisor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director, the discussions that were important for the continent was the role of Parliaments when Governments were negotiating for assistance on loans, grants or some other special assistance on budgetary allocations. It was in this process that issues to do with girls’ education and health for young people as well as the critical indicators for the SADC Model Law was also resourced. The integration of child marriage into the COVID 19 response was, therefore, critical.

PRESENTATION ON THE IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON EDUCATION AND CHILD MARRIAGE AND HOW TO MITIGATE THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE PANDEMIC – MS YVETTE KATHURIMA, HEAD OF ENGAGEMENT, GIRLS NOT BRIDES

The presenter started by informing the meeting that in 2020, the prevalence of child marriage in East and Southern Africa, Sub Saharan Africa and West and Central Africa was 31 per cent, 35 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively. This state of affairs had been exacerbated by the lockdowns, restrictions on movement and the closure of schools, which resulted in worsening cases of mental illness, gender-based violence and inaccessibility to sexual and reproductive health services for young women and girls. The Committee heard that the governments’ restrictions had had severe impact on the global and local economies with families and communities facing extreme stress during the pandemic due to loss of employment. The loss of work meant no source of income, hence the increase in child marriage for dowry. 

Pathways through which COVID 19 was Impacting on Child Marriage

The meeting heard that COVID 19 was impacting on child marriage as set out through the following pathways:

• Education
• Disrupted learning through school closures and lockdowns
• School closures had disproportionately impacted on the poor
• Limited access to on-line learning for very few girls
• Children, particularly girls would not return to school
• Cost of education may become unaffordable for many
• Preference to educate boys over girls
• Health
• Difficulty in accessing sexual and reproductive health services
• Increase in unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Lack of access to menstrual hygiene management products
• Inability to access psychological support services
• Increase in Violence against Girls and Women
• Increase in rates of sexual and gender-based violence
• Shut down of emergency hotlines, services, shelters and police protection services
• Increased practices in harmful practices such as female genital mutilation as a precursor to child marriage
• Economic Impact
• Loss of income due to unemployment
• Unequal burden of unpaid care and domestic work
• Rural, isolated or slum-dwelling communities had become worse off
• Increased reports of survival sex due to shrinking incomes

Child Marriage and the COVID 19 Response: Key Considerations

The meeting was informed that to mitigate the impact of COVID 19 on education and child marriage, it was important to ensure comprehensive measures in psychological support, education, and economic and sexual and reproductive health services. There was also was need to consider responses during the acute and recovery phase, including advocacy for girls’ return to school after pregnancy their accessibility to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) information and services. 

The presenter informed the meeting that mitigation against the impact of the pandemic could include understanding gender equalities and harmful norms, as well as understand gender and sex disaggregated data so as to inform the design, implementation and monitoring of interventions. Further, it was important to ensure that girls and women were engaged across countries and agencies as this was critical for amplifying their voices.

Protecting the Progress made on Girls’ Right to Education

The presenter concluded by stating that because education had a profound effect on girls’ and women’s ability to claim other rights and achieve status, it was important to leverage teachers and communities; adopt appropriate distance learning practice; keep financing flowing into education systems and ensure it benefits girls and boys equally; consider the gender digital divide; safeguard vital services; engage young people; and ensure their return to school.

PRESENTATION ON THE REGIONAL FRAMEWORK ON ERADICATING CHILD MARRIAGE: UNPACKING THE SADC MODEL LAW ON ERADICATING CHILD MARRIAGE AND PROTECTING CHILDREN ALREADY IN MARRIAGE – MS ANANDITA PHILIPOSE, YOUTH AND GENDER SPECIALIST, UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA) EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE

Ms Philipose started her presentation by informing the Committee that approximately one in three of all girls aged between twenty and twenty-four married before their 18^th birthday. Notably, large variations existed between and within countries. In Mozambique, for example, nearly one in two girls, representing 48 per cent, married before their 18^th birthday while in Nampula Province, more than three in five girls, representing 62 per cent, married before the age of eighteen and nearly one in five before the age of fifteen.

The Committee heard that while the percentage of child marriages had been decreasing in many countries across the region in the last decade, especially before the age of fifteen, population growth had outpaced the progress made, leading to a growth in the number of girls married. This was because adolescent girls faced multiple challenges, including child marriage, high levels of teenage pregnancy, high levels of violence and vulnerability to HIV transmission, which had been exacerbated in the COVID-19 context.

The Committee further heard that child marriage was likely the cause of three in four girls having children before the age of eighteen, not completing school, reducing future earnings of girl-children by 9 per cent and making them have less decision making ability as well as face higher risk of violence.

• Unpacking the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages

The presenter gave a brief history and objectives of the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages and submitted that it was a framework for action which linked implementation to other efforts under the UNFPA and UNICEF global programme on child marriage. The SADC PF with the support of the UNFPA, through the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme, Girls Not Brides network and Plan International, developed the framework through an extensive consultative process with MPs, civil society organisations, and other collaborating partners of the region. The model law sought to, inter alia:-

• empower adolescent girls at risk of and affected by marriage
• work with families and communities to promote positive behaviours towards girls and their rights
• ensure that health, education, protection and other systems were responsive to the needs and demand of girls
• support governments in creating a positive legal and policy environment in relation to child marriage
• use and build the data and evidence on what works to end child marriage and harmful practices

The Committee heard that the objective of the model law was to serve as a yardstick and an advocacy tool for legislators in the SADC region to provide best practice language which could be easily adopted or adapted by member states in their laws with regard to eradicating child marriage. The model law sought to assist policy makers, when developing policies and strategies, legislative drafters, when drafting national laws, lawmakers, when enacting laws, judicial officers when interpreting the laws on and related to child marriage, researchers, when carrying out research, and administrators, when applying and implementing the laws. This would address all the relevant areas in need of legislative reform without usurping the authority of national legislatures to determine the content, extent, style and form of their national laws.

The presenter informed the Committee that the model law enshrined standards from different international human rights instruments and gave SADC member states a legal document on which they could adapt for incorporation in domestic legislation. She stated that while the focus of the SADC Model Law was on child marriage, it also contained provisions for the elimination of harmful, social and cultural practices affecting the welfare, dignity and development of the child, especially those practices which were prejudicial to the health or life of the child and practices which were discriminatory.

The Committee heard that Part III contained the fundamental provisions of the model law which were the prohibition of child marriage, betrothal of a child, and third party involvements to a child marriage such as solemnising, aiding or abetting. The contravention of these provisions constituted an offence and if the offender was a person on whom the child depended, such as a parental relationship, it would be considered as an aggravating circumstance. Further, a marriage contracted before the coming into operation of the law was voidable at the option of either party, and that the property acquired during marriage between partners of a child marriage after the latter is declared void would be equally distributed unless it was inherited.

It was submitted that while part IV of the model law covered measures and interventions to prevent child marriages, part V provided for these measures. In this regard, an obligation was placed on the competent minister to put in place such measures and interventions, in consultation with the appropriate authorities. The expenditure to carry out such measures should come from an anti-child marriage fund directly appropriated by government. Other provisions included a restraining order to be made by the court, on application of a child marriage prohibition officer, appropriate authority or person having personal knowledge of circumstances. There was also an obligation on governments to establish multi-sectoral programmes and incentives to assist delay marriage, set up public safety homes and other public facilities for the residence, care and maintenance of victims of child marriage, strengthening community networks, including traditional leaders and religious authorities and the training of officials to prevent and enforce child marriage law.

Other parts provided for data collection, monitoring, evaluation and public awareness to be conducted by the ministry, and offences and enforcement. It provided, inter alia, for state reports to be sent to the forum on measures taken by the state towards eradicating child marriage and the protection of children already in marriage. Provision is also made for child marriage prohibition officers and the setting up of the anti-child marriage Fund.

In conclusion, the Committee was informed that the SADC Model Law was not an end in itself but a beginning for national Parliaments, CSOs, youth and other intended users of the law for policy and programme design. Continuous efforts were needed to guide advocacy for sustained ownership, capacity building and technical assistance to member states for the implementation of the model law as well as its coordination, financing and strengthening mechanisms for accountability for results.

PRESENTATION ON THE UPCOMING REGIONAL ASSESSMENT ON THE IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON MEASURES TO END CHILD MARRIAGE – MR LAZARUS MWALE, REGIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGER (ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE  18+ CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ON ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE IN MIDDLE EAST, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA      

The Committee was informed that the purpose of the regional rapid assessment on the impact of COVID 19 on measures to end child marriage would be carried out between November and December and would be used to generate evidence to inform the development and alignment of programme and advocacy strategies. Further, the assessment was intended to outline strategies for utilisation of the SADC Model law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages during COVID 19 and in the pandemic recovery period. The assessment would seek responses to the following:

• Situation of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in eastern and southern Africa during COVID 19
• State of implementation of the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages, AU Common Position on ending child marriage in the target countries
• Measures in place to curb rising or expected spike in teenage pregnancies and child marriage during COVID 19 and to what extent were these implemented
• Strategies to be employed to reduce the vulnerability of children to child marriage and enhance agency and protection of girls already in marriage, especially during and after COVID 19 pandemic
• How the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages could be utilised by SADC member states in addressing the impact of COVID 19 on ending child marriage

The meeting heard that the approach would be both qualitative and quantitative and would include desk review, primary data collection through key informants derived from the target population (girls, young women, and boys) United Nations agencies, community leaders, Members of Parliament, government departments, civil society organisations, traditional and community leaders. The presenter submitted that a representative sample of six countries would be drawn to ensure a balanced representation of the Eastern and Southern Africa region

The meeting further heard that the findings of the assessment would used as programmatic recommendations for stakeholders, including young advocates, working to end child marriage in the region, used by the SADC-PF on implementation of the Model law during COVID-19 as well as member states and national parliaments.

Deliberations and Recommendations

In its deliberations on the presentations, the Committee made the following resolutions and recommendations:

• URGED national Parliaments to strongly support the SADC Model Law on Ending Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages as an already existing framework and reposition it and its indicators within the COVID 19 context by ensuring that programmes, interventions and policy work started from the premise that the pandemic was here and it could be here for a number of years.

• RECOMMENDED a strong collaboration with traditional institutions because when laws to do with child marriage or monitoring the age of consent, education or realignment or sentencing are being passed, the main issue was usually tradition.

• URGED national governments to ensure that by-laws being put in place by many countries in the SADC region align with the SADC Model Law Ending Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriages and the Africa Common Position on Ending Child Marriage.

• CALLED upon national governments to ensure that mainstream justice systems had in place effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent or sanction child marriages. The justice system should criminalise the practice of child marriage as rape or sexual abuse and accord it a befitting sentence.

• APPEALED to national governments to ensure that sufficient social welfare services are resourced. Serious discrepancies between regions in accessing mechanisms of redress, such as the existence of legal aid, children’s advocates or a children’s court, also meant that children did not have equal access to the help that they need within each country’s justice system.

• ENCOURAGED national Parliaments to ensure that education spending is safeguarded through freeing up resources by relieving, postponing and restricting debt for low and middle income countries.

• FURTHER ENCOURAGED national governments to ensure comprehensive measures in psychological support, education, and economic and sexual and reproductive health services.

• URGED national governments to consider responses during the acute and recovery phase, including advocacy for girls’ return to school after pregnancy and their accessibility to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) information and services.

• ENCOURAGED national governments to close the finance gap by exploring new sources of support for education systems, ranging from debt restricting that protects human capital investment to blended finance.

• RECOMMENDED a comprehensive post COVID 19 plan for re-opening schools. There was need for a multi-sectoral approach, particularly in health and education to develop and communicate well-defined timelines to re-open schools with clear benchmarks and standard.

• FURTHER RECOMMENDED building public awareness on child marriage prevalence, drivers and consequences, and call for greater government leadership and investment in its prevention and mitigation.

• URGED national governments to adapt innovative ways of ensuring protection for girls through platforms such as social media, radio, help lines and girls’ clubs to raise the voices and protect girls who were at increased risk.

• URGED national Parliaments to ensure that their mandate of ensuring rigorous legal and policy frameworks related to child marriages was comprehensive and accompanied by proper training of the Judiciary, police and child protection officials and other stakeholders that are responsible for the implementation and enforcement. .

• STRONGLY URGED national governments to ensure continuous capacity building of parliamentarians, civil society organisations, youth and other intended users of the Model Law.

• EMPHASISED the need for gender-sensitive approaches in the education response to COVID 19.

• REITERATED the continuous capacity building, of parliamentarians, civil society organisations, youth and other intended users of the SADC Model Law

VOTE OF THANKS BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON 

The Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Peete Peete Ramoquai, concluded the meeting by thanking all the Members, resource persons and attendees who contributed to the deliberations. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the Secretary-General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum and her good office for implementing this virtual meeting of the Committee, and reiterated that eradicating child marriage would require long term, sustainable action across many different sectors since the causes of the practice are multifaceted.

There being no further business to transact, the meeting was adjourned at 15:36 hours

Minutes of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Women Advancement And Youth Development Virtual Meeting Held on 28th October

AT THE

VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD UNDER THE THEME ‘‘HARNESSING DOMESTIC TOURISM IN TIMES OF PANDEMICS, A CASE OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS’

Let me begin by thanking Honourable Members for your active participation.  To the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, I commend you for convening this meeting.  May I also take this opportunity to extend my profound gratitude to our Resource Persons for taking time out of your busy schedules to be with us and share this invaluable information.

Hon Members we have learnt from the presentations that the recovery of the tourism sector in the SADC region is going to take long because of other equally important COVID induced challenges that Governments have to deal with.  Of utmost importance is for us to realise that this recovery will not happen without effort.  It is crucial that we devise new strategies and initiatives to support domestic tourism and reignite tourism in its entirety.  Among other things, there is need for more investments to be made in the tourism sector.  Our duty, therefore, is to ensure that we utilise this information that we have received today to lobby our respective countries for more funding towards the tourism sector.

Let me reiterate the fact this engagement has been very insightful and the information shared will definitely assist Honourable Members in respective countries to make legislative recommendations that can contribute to build sustainable tourism sectors.

Lastly, thank you all for your participation.

I thank you.

Closing Remarks - Standing Committee on FANR

AT THE

VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD UNDER THE THEME ‘HARNESSING DOMESTIC TOURISM IN TIMES OF PANDEMICS, A CASE OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS’

SALUTATIONS

• Honourable Members of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Food Agriculture and Natural Resources;
• The Secretary General of the SADC PF, Ms Boemo Sekgoma;
• Our Distinguished Resource Persons:
• Our Distinguished Participants;
• Ladies and Gentlemen.

Honourable Members of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, it is a great honour and privilege for me to welcome you to this meeting.

Hon Members, we are meeting to deliberate on the theme ‘Harnessing Domestic Tourism in Times of Pandemic, A Case of the COVID 19 Pandemic. The Role of Parliaments?’

Hon Members, as you may already be aware, it is now over one year since the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic.  The world has continued to experience many socioeconomic challenges as a result of the pandemic.  The COVID restrictions have brought the global economy and the tourism industry to a standstill. Notably, this pandemic has had a profound impact on the global tourism sector. Travel restrictions, quarantines, and closures of transportations has led to about 22 per cent decline of international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2020 compared with 2019 and possibly to 60 to 80 per cent for the remainder of 2020.^[1]

Hon Members, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the COVID 19 pandemic could cut about 50 million jobs worldwide in the travel and tourism industry.^[2] It is noteworthy that the tourism industry accounts for close to 10 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product.

The challenges highlighted above are further compounded by the fact that Africa’s tourism source markets such as China, the United States of America and Europe are amongst the most affected countries by the pandemic.  These countries have in place partial and complete lockdowns as well as other travel restrictions.  While some experts postulate that domestic tourism is driving the recovery of several tourist destinations, this is just partially, as it is not compensating for the drop in international demand.

Further projections indicate that in most countries tourism was not likely to return to pre-pandemic levels until about 2023.  This may even be worse for Africa as its tourism and travel sectors are disproportionately affected by the pandemic coupled with other socio-economic challenges that have been precipitated by the pandemic.  It is likely that Africa will take longer to recover than other regions, primarily due to the lack of domestic and intraregional demand.  Tourism may also not be a priority for many African governments, as concerns about other sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture could be more pressing.  As a result, the impact on the tourism sector in Africa is expected to be far reaching and long lasting.  Southern Africa is already feeling the impact, among other countries, Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have recorded sharp drops in international tourist arrivals.  The UNWTO had indicated that 100 per cent of global destinations continue to have restrictions on travel in place, and 72 per cent have completely closed their borders for international tourism.

Hon Members, it is absolutely very clear to all of us that tourism plays a critical role to our economics.  Tourism contributes significantly to GDP, export earning, employment, human and physical capital investment of SADC countries.  Therefore, tourism has the potential to be a catalyst for recovery across much of the region.

Hon Members, with commitment and dedication, it is possible that tourism can return to pre-pandemic levels.  Diversifying, shifting to more sustainable tourism models and investing in new technologies could help to shape the recovery.  This is an opportunity for respective Member states to focus and support domestic tourism.  In addition, Governments’ policies and interventions will be critical for the recovery of the tourism sector.

The onus, therefore, is for Member countries to begin to re-examine their tourism sectors in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic . It is critical for us to employ innovative ways that can build sustainable and resilient tourism sectors that can endure even in times of crises such as the COVID 19 pandemic.

Hon Members, as already alluded to, many SADC countries thrive on international tourists.  The COVID 19 pandemic has merely validated this fact.  It is also assumed that international tourism will only fully recover after a vaccine is effectively deployed. The current challenge that Members States face is how to sustain operations and preserve jobs until the crisis abates.  At this point, and before the vaccine is fully rolled out, our hope lies in domestic tourism.

Before the outbreak of the pandemic, perhaps a few Member states had taken deliberate measures to boost domestic tourism.  I am also aware that some Members countries have in place measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis on tourism.  However, given the profound impact that the COVID 19 pandemic has had on tourism in the SADC region, it is imperative that urgent action is taken to minimise the economic impacts. 

The onus, therefore, is for SADC countries to begin to rethink tourism and focus on increasing promotion of domestic and intra-African tourism and travel.  This will serve as a catalyst for triggering recovery and stimulating growth in the industry.

The role of Parliamentarians in this matter is critical, as this requires that that policies and legislative measures that can boost domestic tourism are in place.  It is also critical that Parliaments lobby for more budgetary allocation towards the tourism sector to accelerate recovery.

Hon Members, we are privileged today, to have experts in our midst and I have no doubt that at the end of this meeting, we will be equipped with information that will assist us come up with recommendations that can contribute to building resilient tourism sectors.

It is now my honour and privilege to declare the meeting of the Standing Committee on Food Agriculture and Natural Resources officially open.

I thank you.

^[1] UNWTO (2020a), World Tourism Barometer, vol. 18, No. 2, May

^[2] WTTC (2020), Latest research from WTTC shows a 50% increase in jobs at risk in Travel & Tourism, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Available at: https://www.wttc.org/about/media-centre/press-releases/press-releases/2020

Theme:      Harnessing Domestic Tourism in Times of Pandemics: A Case of the COVID 19 Pandemic: The Role of Parliaments

INTRODUCTION

The world is facing an unprecedented global health, social and economic crisis because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Since its outbreak in December 2019, the Pandemic has continued to take a massive toll on global economies including many African countries.  The outbreak and attendant lockdowns have exerted a tremendous impact on the tourism industry worldwide and African countries have been adversely affected, especially those that are dependent on foreign tourists.  Travel restrictions, quarantines, and closures of transportations led to about 22 per cent decline of international tourist arrivals in 2020 compared to 2019 and possibly 60 to 80 per cent over the entire year^[1]. At present, the global travel and tourism industry is in a fight for survival with an estimated 50 million global jobs at risk due to the pandemic.

The World Economic Outlook projections indicate that the global economy contracted by 4.4 per cent in 2020 and the shock in tourism-dependent economies would be far worse.  Real Gross Domestic Product among African countries dependent on tourism decreased by 12 per cent.  It is further projected that tourism-dependent countries will likely feel the negative impacts of the crisis for much longer than other economies, because contact-intensive services key to the tourism and travel sectors are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and will continue to struggle until people feel safe to travel again.^[2]

Although domestic tourism is driving the recovery of several destinations, this recovery is in most cases only partial, as it is not compensating for the drop in international demand. This supports the proposition that tourism receipts worldwide are not expected to recover to 2019 levels until 2023.

Taking cognisance of the negative impact that the COVID-19 Pandemic is having on the economies of most SADC countries, particularly on the tourism industry which is a major contributor to the GDP of most Southern African counties, it is imperative that measures are put in place or to enhance existing polices and laws in order to sustain the tourism in SADC countries.  Against this background, the Committee will consider the theme “Harnessing Domestic Tourism in Times of Pandemics: A Case of the COVID 19 pandemic: The Role of Parliaments.”

AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING

The aim of the meeting of the Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources is to explore ways that can be employed to boost domestic tourism during the COVID-19 Pandemic and beyond.

The specific objectives are to:

• appreciate challenges that Member states are facing to sustain the tourism industry a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic;
• learn how innovation and digitisation can help to optimize tourism in Member states;
• establish sustainable measures and strategies to boost domestic tourism; and
• make recommendations on how tourism can be sustained in times of pandemics.

METHODOLOGY

This activity will be undertaken virtually on Zoom platform.  The Committee will benefit from expert presentations from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), SADC Secretariat and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Arica (COMESA), who possess great insight on the subject matter based on studies that they have undertaken on the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the global economy, which includes tourism.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

It is expected that the meeting will bring to the fore measures and strategies that can promote domestic tourism in SADC countries.  Arising from these measures, it is envisaged that Hon Members will gain valuable knowledge on how to manage tourism even in the midst of pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  This will in turn capacitate Hon Members to make legislative recommendations through the various parliamentary processes in their respective countries.

 Concept Note-FANR Domestic Tourism

^[1] https://www.unwto.org/news/covid-19-international-tourist-numbers-could-fall-60-80-in-2020.

^[2] https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/12/impact-of-the-pandemic-on-tourism-behsudi.htm

Date:          Monday, 12^th April, 2021

Time:         09:30 – 12:30 hours

14:00 - 16:00 hours

Venue:       Virtual Meeting

1) Credentials of Delegates and Apologies

2) Adoption of the Agenda

3) Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson

4) Consideration of the Minutes and Matters arising from the Minutes of the FANR Standing Committee virtual meeting held on Wednesday, 11^th November, 2020

5) Consideration of the Concept Note for the proposed theme for the Standing Committee on FANR ‘Harnessing Domestic Tourism During Pandemics: A Case of the COVID 19 Pandemic. The Role of Parliaments’

6) Any Other Business

ANNOTATED AGENDA

ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATIONADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

Members are invited to consider and adopt the draft Agenda presented to the Committee.

CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE FANR STANDING COMMITTEE VIRTUAL MEETING HELD ON 11 NOVEMBER, 2021

Members may recall that at the last virtual meeting held on 11 November, 2020, the Committee considered and made recommendations as outlined below.

THE IMPACT OF AFRICAN MIGRATORY LOCUST ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Among other recommendations, the Committee urged SADC Member States to work closely with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO-UN), Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA0 and other institutions to strengthen the existing linkages to ensure effective and timely collective action in managing the AML and other pests that threatened the food security of Southern Africa.  The Committee further recommended that Member Parliaments should advocate and lobby respective Governments to adequately fund and build the capacity of institutions mandated to deal with the control of the of the African Migratory Locusts.

In addition, the Committee had urged Member States to adopt integrated pest management systems in managing the locusts in order to effectively control the further spread of the pests. With regard the adverse environmental effects, the Committee recommended that Member States should periodically carry out environmental impact assessments in order to ascertain the environmental damage that may occur as a result of the use of the chemical pesticides in pest control of the African Migratory Locust.

 CONSIDERATION OF THE CONCEPT NOTE FOR THE PROPOSED THEME FOR THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FANR

The Committee is invited to consider and approve the proposed theme namely: ‘Harnessing Domestic Tourism During Pandemics: A Case of the COVID 19 Pandemic. The Role of Parliaments’

In order to gain insight on the subject matter, the Committee will receive presentations from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Southern African Development Community.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Annotated Agenda - Standing Committee on FANR

SADC PF PRE-ELECTION CONSULTATIVE MISSION TO ZAMBIA

Virtual Interface between the SADC PF Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights (DGHR) and Electoral Stakeholders in Zambia on the Domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections ahead of the 2021 Zambia General Elections

22^nd – 31^st March 2021

PROGRAMME

You are invited to a Pre-Election Consultative Virtual Meeting between the SADC PF Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights (DGHR) and Electoral Stakeholders in Zambia ahead of the 2021 General Elections on 12th August. The meeting is part of the ongoing efforts towards popularising and promoting the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections. The theme for the 10-day consultations is “Promoting Electoral Integrity in the SADC region.”

When: Monday, 22^nd to Wednesday, 31^st March 2021.

Please register in advance for the meeting on this link:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kc-2opzgiGNWoj8f5XntE1dPmhbwn-Ao9

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Contact Paulina for inquiries: email: .

Thank you.

Documents

• NOTICE OF MEETING - Pre-election Assessment Mission 21-31 March 2021
• Concept Note - Pre-Election Consultative Meeting Zambia 22nd – 31st March 2021
• Programme - Pre-Election Consultative Meeting-Zambia 2021

SADC PF PRE-ELECTION CONSULTATIVE MISSION TO ZAMBIA  

Virtual Interface between the SADC PF Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights (DGHR) and Electoral Stakeholders in Zambia on the Domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections ahead of the 2021 Zambia General Elections

22^nd – 31^st March 2021

CONCEPT NOTE

 INTRODUCTION

Continuous review and adaptation of legal frameworks governing electoral systems and processes, based on experiences and emerging best practices, are necessary in old and new democracies alike. The review and timely reform of legal frameworks relating to elections ensures laws are up to date and are aligned to the various regional and international instruments on elections. However, implementing electoral reforms is not without challenges as this often requires the commitment of and collaboration by various stakeholders including parliaments, election management bodies, political parties, civil society, media, government and the general citizenry.

As a primary advocator for democratic elections in the SADC region, SADC PF has a long history and extensive experience in championing electoral reforms in SADC Member States and has developed normative standards for elections, starting with the pioneering election instrument in SADC and the entire African continent, the Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC region, adopted in 2001. In 2013 SADC PF also developed a compendium of all election principles in the SADC region which are contained in various election instruments adopted by different organisations titled Benchmarks for Assessing Democratic Elections in Southern Africa. The two instruments above have been extensively applied during the over 50 technical assessment and election observation missions that SADC PF have deployed to Member States over the years.

Since the adoption of the Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC region, several other election instruments have been developed by various organisations, including SADC and the African Union (AU), which are aimed at strengthening the conduct and management of democratic elections. These include the following:

• SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections of 2004 by SADC;
• SADC Protocol on Gender and Development of 2008 by SADC;
• Principles for Election Management, Monitoring, and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) of 2003 by Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC (ECF-SADC) and Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA);
• African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa of 2002; and
• African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of 2007 by the African Union.

As a parliament-centric organisation, SADC PF recognises the importance of elections in the democratisation of SADC Member States and more critically, the role of parliaments in ensuring electoral accountability and electoral integrity during this process. While elections are a cardinal component of any democracy since they confer political legitimacy and integrate social pluralism and political competition, which entrench constructive management of conflict, in and by themselves elections do not equate to democracy. What is of essence to the sustenance of democratic processes is the efficacy of elections, rather than their regularity. The need to ensure electoral accountability and integrity makes parliaments the fulcrum, in particular their law making and oversight roles.

In recognition of the centrality of the legal framework in attaining electoral accountability and integrity and the increasing influence of parliaments in this regard, the SADC PF 44^th Plenary Assembly on 4^th December 2018 adopted the SADC Model Law on Elections in Maputo, Mozambique. The adoption of the SADC Model Law on Elections is yet another milestone by SADC PF in promoting democratic elections in the SADC Region.

The Model Law, which was developed under the auspices of the DGHR Standing Committee jointly with partners such as the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC (ECF-SADC) and SADC Lawyers Association (SADCLA), serves to assist Member States in aligning their legal frameworks on elections with regional and international principles and obligations on democratic elections, in particular the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

The revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, which was revised with the full participation of SADC PF, was adopted by the Ministerial Committee of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on 20 July 2015, in Pretoria, South Africa. It sets the framework towards a unified and binding election instrument in the SADC Region.

DOMESTICATION OF THE SADC MODEL LAW ON ELECTIONS IN SADC MEMBER STATES

Whereas the development of various election instruments within SADC was a positive step, the majority of them are however, not legally binding and therefore, non-enforceable. This is coupled with the fact that there has generally been a slow pace in the domestication of SADC Protocols by Member States, including those on elections. Accordingly, while regular elections are now largely a common practice across the SADC region, it is important to note that they vary across Member States in terms of in terms of texture and quality as different countries grapple with various challenges that have potential to impede the credibility and integrity of elections.

As a matter of fact, the SADC region continues to face various recurrent and emerging challenges which are not only undermining the integrity of elections but also have enormous implications on the integrity of democracy itself. At the core of the challenge is the inadequate levelling of the electoral landscape. This has been manifesting in inequitable access to public media, partial application of laws related to the policing of public assemblies during elections, lack of transparency and accountability in political financing, abuse of public resources, contested voter registration processes and outcomes, polarised and biased media and contested election outcomes and recently the Covid-19 related lockdowns that hamper political participations and other elections-related rights.

Consequently, citizens confidence in politics in general and elections in particular has been deeply dented as signified by the growing apathy of citizens, especially among the youth. As the stakes become high in elections the proliferation of disinformation and “fake news” phenomenon and “politics by any means” increased. The result is the entrenchment of an electoral process marked by an entrenched culture of violence which disproportionately impact on women and children.

In view of the above, the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections at national level, throughout the election cycle, is therefore, vital to strengthen the electoral legal frameworks, systems and practices in Member States and contribute towards electoral accountability and electoral integrity in the SADC region.

This is the context in which SADC PF is deploying the Pre-Election Consultative Meeting on the Domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections to Zambia ahead of the 2021 General Elections.

PRE-ELECTION CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON THE DOMESTICATION OF THE SADC MODEL LAW ON ELECTIONS TO ZAMBIA

SADC PF Standing Committee on Democratisation, Governance and Human Rights, in collaboration with Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and GIZ Peace, Security and Good Governance in the SADC Region, will convene a Pre-Election Consultative Meeting with Electoral Stakeholders in Zambia from 22^nd to 31^st March 2021. The Consultative Meeting will be held virtually on Zoom platform in view of the Covid-19 travel restrictions.

OBJECTIVES 

• Disseminate the contents of the SADC Model Law on Elections among electoral stakeholders;
• Engage the ECZ and other electoral stakeholders in Zambia and assess progress on the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections and identify successes and gaps;
• Prepare for the deployment of an effective SADC PF election observation mission during the 2021 General Elections;
• Share good practices on the domestication of the SADC Model Law on Elections based on regional and international experiences; and
• Adopt recommendations on priority actions to be undertaken by different electoral stakeholders in the pre-election, election and post-election phases of the election cycle enhance electoral accountability and integrity in Zambia and the SADC region.

FORMAT OF THE EVENT 

As already indicated, the Consultative Meetings will be held by the SADC PF DGHR Standing Committee with the various electoral stakeholders in Zambia, including ECZ, political parties, CSOs, media, judiciary and government agencies with roles in the management of elections such as the police based on the programme. The appointments with stakeholders will be organised and facilitated by the National Assembly of Zambia.

Concept Note - Pre-Election Consultative Meeting Zambia 22nd – 31st March 2021