The SADC Secretariat collaborated with the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) and other development partners in conducting a consultative workshop on Gender Based Violence (GBV) with Members of Parliament through the Regional Parliamentary Women’s Caucus. Hon. Lonnie Chijere Phiri and Hon. Bertha Mackenzie Ndebele represented Malawi’s Parliamentary Women’s Caucus at the meeting.

The meeting aimed at

i. s]Sensitizing Members of Parliament on the SADC Regional Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing Gender Based Violence, 2018 – 2030; and

ii.    Discussing modalities on harmonizing and implementing legislation on Gender Based Violence, including consultation on establishing a GBV Model Law for SADC.

The workshop was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 27-28 September 2019, with representation of Members of Parliament from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, parliamentary officials from Botswana were also in attendance.