The
Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
Permanent Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability has
convened virtually to conduct an assessment on the formulation of a Gender
Parity Model Law. The Committee was also briefed on the status of the African
Model Law on Disability adopted by the PAP Plenary in October 2019.
In
March 2020, African Parliamentarians held a workshop on ‘Achieving Women’s
Empowerment through a Gender Parity Model Law: A Parliamentary Solution for
Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth by 2023’. The general objective of
the consultations was to provide the foundation for drafting a Gender Parity
Model Law. The meeting also sensitized Parliamentarians on the Maputo Protocol
and the extent of implementation, while igniting sharing of experiences on
legislation aimed at promoting gender equality and the rights of women.
In
her opening remarks during the virtual meeting, Hon. Marie Mediatrice IZABILIZA, Deputy Chairperson of the PAP
Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability praised African
countries that have expedited the process on women’s empowerment to make parity
a reality. She further noted that despite the notable progress, persistence of
gender inequality limits the potential of the continent since millions of
African women are excluded from the economic sector.
“Parity
remains an issue for democracy and good governance. While progress is certainly
visible in the area of the women’s empowerment, there is still a long way to go
and the awareness by women of this course gives a glimmer of hope that with the
support of their male partners, the balance will be struck. A Gender Parity
Model Law would redress the inequalities which women still suffer in Africa,”
said Hon. IZABILIZA.
The
draft report on “Achieving women’s Development through a Gender Parity Model
Law” will be presented to the next Plenary of the PAP for consideration and
adoption. This will set the stage for the initiation of the Model Law by the
PAP. The legislation will be formulated in collaboration with the African Union
Commission (AUC).
The
International Labour Organization (ILO) has also been tapped to provide
technical support for the development of the Gender Parity Model. The ILO will
provide expertise in International Labour standard, Gender equality and
non-discrimination and Labour Law formulation.
The
ongoing virtual meeting of the Committee on Gender further received updates on
the African Model Law on Disability, adopted by African Parliamentarians at the
Third Ordinary Session of the Fifth Parliament in October 2019. The purpose of
this Law is to provide a legal and institutional framework for the protection
and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, in line with the
existing international and regional legal and policy instruments.
The
Model Law is in the process of being submitted to AU Specialised Technical
Committees (STCs) on Social Development, Labour and Employment as well as
Justice and Legal Affairs before the adoption by the Executive Council. In the
meantime, members of the PAP were urged to sensitize AU member states on the
content of the Model Law for its consideration in policies at national level. Mr. Clement Mavungu, PAP’s Legal
Officer also recommended that the PAP leads advocacy efforts for the ratification
of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa.
Finally,
the Committee on Gender examined the Protocol to the African Charter on Human
and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social
Security presented by Mr. Lefhoko
Kesamang, Senior Welfare Officer at the Department of Health, Humanitarian
Affairs and Social Development (HHS) of the AUC. The Protocol affirms that
“every citizen has the right to social protection. The state has the obligation
to ensure that social protection is available, accessible, adequate, affordable
and transparent.”
The
PAP Committee was called upon to ensure that state parties develop, maintain
and expand an appropriate regulatory, institutional and operational framework
for the provision of social protection and ensure good and democratic
governance of social protection schemes and arrangements. This is even more
crucial in the context of the COVID-19.
The
virtual Sitting of the Permanent Committees of the Fifth Parliament of the
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is currently underway and will be held until 22
April 2021.
Source: Mr. Jeffrey
Onganga. Media
Officer, Pan African Parliament
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