Lawmakers in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have called for the implementation of the quota system in the recruitment of staff into the organs and institutions of the East African Community.
In a video interview shared by South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), the lawmakers in the regional bloc argued that males had dominated most of the institutions of the East African Community and that there was a need for commitment in implementing the EAC treaty.
The Chairman of the East Africa Council of Ministers, Adan Mohammed, said it should be a policy to indicate the gender needed for specific jobs when advertising them.
“One of the things we need to rectify is the lack of a policy in place. If we don’t have one, we need as a council to consider developing one, (so that) when you are advertising a job, you make it very clear that this is for this gender or not for this gender, ” Adan Mohammed.
They called for the protection of the rights of women as far as gender-based violence is concerned. The lawmakers said gender-based violence should be eradicated in the EAC partner states by enacting a law to act accordingly with its breakers.
“If we don’t get our voices heard today, the EAC is missing out on doing anything to stand up in favour of equity between men and women,” said Mary Mugenyi.
Dr Woda Jeremiah said the working conditions of women in the community were not favourable. She called for special considerations for lactating members so that their nannies could be taken care of as well as their tickets.
“I think there should be a conducive environment for women, especially those who are breastfeeding. We need them to have a conducive environment. “
EAC Treaty
The East African Community is said to have launched its gender policy in September 2018 in Arusha, Tanzania. The treaty had been developed to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for women and men, as well as boys and girls.
The policy is aimed at strengthening gender concerns about planning and budgetary processes in all the sectors of the EAC organs, institutions, and partner states.
At the opening session, Christophe Bazivamo, the Deputy Secretary-General who is in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, and the Director of Social Sectors at the Secretariat, Mary Makoffu, said that the policy was formulated to kick out gender disparity among men and women, girls and boys.
“Despite various accomplishments by partner states in educating the girl-child, and possessing various skills by women and girls, there was a poor representation of women in the employment sector and more so in political representation,” said Director Makoffu.
Makoffu added that there was still a lack of transparency and accountability in various organs and institutions of the community.
“This lack of accountability delays progress in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, and other marginalized groups,” she said.
She quoted Article 6 (d) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, “The Partner States commit to adhering to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality, as well as recognition, promotion, and protection of human and people’s rights.”
The Gender Equity Act
The Chairperson of the General Purpose Committee of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Abdikadir Aden, said that EALA had passed the EAC Gender Equality and Equity Bill, 2017 on Women’s Day in Kigali in 2017.
According to Aden, the bill, when passed into law, would reduce issues of gender-based violence in East African Community organs and institutions as well as in their partner states.
“I am informed that the training has been organized to provide relevant knowledge, skills, and values that will allow participants to contribute effectively to the implementation of the EAC Gender Policy and all efforts at mainstreaming gender in their respective organizations and in the partner states,” said the legislator.