GEC formalises partnership with SADC Parliamentary Forum

The Global Equality Caucus is pleased to announce that we have enacted a partnership agreement with the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), effective from March 2024.

The SADC-PF is an autonomous institution of the Southern African Development Community, serving as a regional inter-parliamentary body for 15 member parliaments representing 3500 parliamentarians in the SADC region. The Forum provides a platform for legislators to promote and improve regional integration across the region, focused on values including human rights, gender equality, good governance, democracy, transparency, peace and stability.

The collaboration has also been welcomed by GEC’s civil society partner, The Other Foundation, a Southern Africa-based LGBT+ rights organisation who have worked for years to strengthen civil society relations with SADC institutions.

The cooperation agreement will see GEC working closely with SADC-PF on areas of common interest, engaging legislators from member parliaments more closely on LGBT-inclusive policies and legislative initiatives to advance equal rights.

The agreement formalises a successful collaboration between the two parties around last year’s African Legislators For Equality event in Johannesburg, where 20 legislators from 11 African countries established GEC’s regional legislators’ network.

SADC-PF Secretary-General Boemo Sekgoma addressed the event digitally, with her message available to watch below.

On the cooperation agreement, GEC Regional Manager Tshepo Kgositau said: “I am delighted to advance this partnership with SADC-PF, who do commendable work with legislators across the region to promote the values of equality, dignity and democracy. By sharing our organisational experiences and working together on areas of mutual interest, we will engage with more legislators than ever as we develop equitable and inclusive policies in parliaments across Southern Africa.”