Implementing the Beijing Platform for Action
It is very interesting to note that women met in Zambia to reveal and make some recommendations for the way forward (Pambazuka News 157: Implementing the Beijing Platform for Action). This is highly recommended by all women, expect women and girls with disabilities as it seems this target group is left out. I think it is high time that women with disabilities are included in issues concerning other women and given the opportunity to air their views.
Barbara Lopi Replies: Thank you for your comments to the editorial ‘Implementing the Beijing Platform for Action’ that appeared in Pambazuka news. Indeed it was interesting for SADC gender activists to meet in Zambia and reflect on progress towards the implementation of the Beijing PFA. The Lusaka meeting is among the many fora taking place to share progress and chart the way forward. In this case, participation to this meeting was limited to representatives of National NGO focal points. Issues of women and girls with disabilities where considered as cross-cutting and featured in all discussions on the 12 critical areas of concern. But I do agree with you that little came out in the recommendations.
Currently, countries are in the process of preparing progress status reports on implementation of the BPFA and I will advise that you forward recommendations to the relevant NGO and government machineries that are working on the progress review reports in your country. Currently, discussions on issues that various groups would like to be included in the plan of action post Beijing +10 are in progress. Regarding what we at SARDC WIDSAA have done, our key mandate as an information organisation is to ensure that information on the situation of women's empowerment issues in various aspects in the southern African region is made available to the relevant policy makers and development planners for use. We thus, in collaboration with national partners and other relevant organisations, collect, document and disseminate information on gender and development related issues for use in lobbying, advocacy and policy formulation. For instance, our publication Beyond Inequalities: Women in Southern Africa (2000) has various chapters on the 12 critical areas of concern, including one on women with disabilities.