THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2015 Dr Ramola Ramtohul, Senior Lecturer,

1. THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2015 Dr Ramola Ramtohul, Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Studies, University of Mauritius NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

2. SYNOPSIS Gender has been mainstreamed in the department of Social Studies since the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially with academics such as Nalini Burn, Satin Ragobur, VidulaNababsing and Sheila Bunwaree – all of whom have retired. Early research on gender issues included gender and the EPZ, gender and migration, historical analysis of the evolution of the roles of women. Other academics in the department are now working on gender issues, including men such as Ibrahim Koodoruth. More research is currently being done on issues such as gender and politics, gender and citizenship, gender and media, gender and education, domestic violence etc. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

3. OBJECTIVES Key gender mainstreaming objectives of the institution/Department • The Department of Social Studies has been working to ensure that all its programmes include a gender component and this has been largely achieved. There are either full gender based modules, or components of modules have a gendered focus in all programmes. • Other departments, such as the Department of Economics and Statistics also have staff working and publishing on gender and the economy, e.g. Verena Tandrayen Ragobur, Harshana Kaseeah. • In the faculty of Law and Management, some staff have done research on and published on women and management in Mauritius, e.g. Anita Ramgutty Wong 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

4. BACKGROUND The Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities goes far back with regard to mainstreaming gender – since the late 1980s and early 1990s with pioneer women academics who took the lead at that time. Since then, other younger academic staff have continued the work and done more research on gender issues in Mauritiusand developed new programmes which included a strong gender component. E.g. BSc (Hons) Sociology with Specialisation in Gender Studies. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

5. KEY ACTIVITIES • Designed a new programme which included specialisation in gender studies • Relevant modules in most programmeshave a gender component • Integration of gender issues in teaching • Research and publications on gender issues • Recruitment of academic staff with formal qualifications in gender studies • Consultancy research for the Ministry of Gender Equality on gender issues and problems in the country NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

6. CHALLENGES • There was some resistance to introduce the Sociology programme with Specialisation in Gender Studies, but this was overcome through discussion and consultation. • Another long term goal would be to set up a centre for gender and policy at the university. But this will require resources and planning. NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

7. RESULTS • Students are more aware of gender issues and problems in the country • Gender has been mainstreamed in the curriculum and course content of the bulk of programmes offered by the department • There are specific modules on gender where entire reading lists are made up of gender studies materials – e.g. Gender and Society, Gender and Media, Gender and Citizenship • Most students of the BSc (Hons) Sociology with Specialisation in Gender Studies have done their dissertations on gender concerns • Journalism and Communication Studies students are made aware of gender biases in reporting so that they do not do so in their articles. NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

8. RESULTS • With regard to assessment, gender biased language and writing are not accepted and students made aware • At the university, academic staff have been doing research on gender issues in the country • Capacity building – academic staff with formal qualifications in gender studies • Public participation – public lectures for NGOs e.g. MACOSS • Changes at a policy level – Consultancy studies commissioned by the Ministry of Gender Equality and done by academics at the university – e.g. on gender-based violence, CEDAW report for Mauritius – these have policy implications NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

9. LESSONS LEARNT AND INNOVATION • Engagement of the department and the university with Gender Links has been useful in deepening and enriching the connection of the department with civil society and the work being done by NGOs on gender mainstreaming in Mauritian society. • Some journalism and communication studies students do their internship at Genderlinks NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

10. LEARNING AND SHARING WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS • The Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Pretoria • The African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town I was at the African Gender Institute as a PhD student ans at the Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies as a postdoctoral research fellow. My time at these institutes deepened my knowledge on gendered concerns that were specific to African contexts and also on feminist activism in Africa. NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST

11. SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION • There is no problem or hindrance with regard to doing research, writing and publishing on gender issues. • Research funds are, however, scarce and the university is facing budgetary constraints at the moment. • Reference to publications and research carried out by University of Mauritius academics are consulted by students and stakeholders from other institutions. NOW AND POST 2015 ! YES WE MUST