D. RECOGNISING THAT: i) The SADC Council of Ministers in 1990 mandated the SADC Secretariat to explore the best ways to incorporate gender issues in the SADC Programme of Work, and approved in 1996 that gender issues at the regional level be coordinated by the Secretariat; ii) In execution of this mandate, the SADC Secretariat has developed and maintained working relations with key stakeholders in the area of gender, which resulted in the approval and adoption of the SADC Gender Programme by the SADC Councilof Ministers in February 1997; WE THEREFORE: E. REAFFIRM our commitment to the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies, the Africa Platform of Action and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. F. ENDORSE the decision of Council on: i) The establishment of a policy framework for mainstreaming gender in all SADC activities, and in strengthening the efforts by member countries to achieve gender equality. ii) Putting into place an institutional framework for advancing gender equality consistent with that established for other areas of co-operation, but which ensures that gender is routinely taken into account in all sectors. iii) The establishment of a Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Gender Affairs in the region. iv) The adoption of the existing Advisory Committee consisting of one representative from Government and one member from Non Governmental Organisations in each member state whose task is to advise the Standing Committee of Ministers and other Sectoral Committees of Ministers on gender issues. v) The establishment of Gender Focal Points whose task would be to ensure that gender is taken into account in all sectoral initiatives, and is placed on the agenda of all ministerial meetings. vi) The establishment of a Gender Unit in the SADC Secretariat consisting of at least two officers at a senior level. 3