WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA, Thursday 19 August 2021 – The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) will tomorrow, Friday 20 August 2021, meet with Human Rights Commissioners in the SADC region to get their input on the development of the SADC Model Law on Gender Based Violence (GBV Model Law).

The GBV Model Law seeks to guide SADC Member States in developing effective policies and efficacious Laws on gender–based violence. The GBV Model Law will be a useful tool to SADC as it will, amongst others, encourage national legislatures to enact GBV laws where none exist, or where they do exist but do not conform with this Model Law to review such laws and enact relevant GBV laws that conform with this Model Law. It will also provide a yardstick to National policy analysts, legislators, and implementers as to best practices in enacting and dealing with GBV.

The keynote address will be delivered by Ms. Habiba Rezwana Osman, Chief Executive Officer at Malawi Human Rights Commission, Hon. Justice Prof Key Dingake will present background theoretical papers covering GBV as a human rights issue and shortfalls on GBV legislation in the SADC region and Ms Linly Kondowe, a GBV community advocate from Mzimba - Northern Region of Malawi, will share experiences of advocating for the rights of people affected by GBV in her country.

Details of the session are as follows:

Date: Friday, 20 August 2021

Time: 10am to 1500 hours Johannesburg Time.

MEDIA ACCESS: Meetings of the SADC-PF are open to the media and journalists who are interested in covering them must register on the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscOirqDoiGNZGgzk0NIY162mS98QTtDTK

The meeting will be live streamed on the SADC-PF social media platforms on the links below and recorded for later broadcast on DSTV Channel 408:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadcpf

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sadcpf

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCa0QZWjuXVxer_vm637pBmQ

ISSUED BY THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

Enquiries: Modise Kabeli +27 81 715 9969 or

MEDIA ADVISORY: SADC PF HOLDS CONSULTATIONS WITH SADC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS ON SADC MODEL LAW ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE