Southern Africa has scored relatively good results in the implementation of the gender commitments set by the Beijing Platform for Action and its Declaration, and the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development (1997) and its Addendum (1998). However, a lot still needs to be done to fully address the critical areas of concern and special target groups such as the poorest of the poor, rural women, women with disabilities and the girl child.

SADC is faced with increasing levels of poverty, heightening incidents of violence against women and girls, and the immense challenges brought by HIV and AIDS. Added to that are the emerging crises such as trafficking of women and children that threaten the social, economic and political gains made by the region over the years.