Last Change:
10/16/2026
THE GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY ACT, 2015
Original names of the law: THE GENDER EQUITY AND EQUALITY ACT, 2015
Year: 2015
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Health
Description
An Act to establish the Gender Equity and Equality Commission and provide for its functions and powers; provide for the taking of measures and making of strategic decisions in all spheres of life in order to ensure gender equity, equality and integration of both sexes in society; promote gender equity and equality as a cross cutting issue in all spheres of life and stimulate productive resources and development opportunities for both sexes; prohibit harassment, victimisation and harmful social, cultural and religious practices; provide for public awareness and training on issues of gender equity and equality; provide for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, empower women and achieve gender equity and equality by giving effect to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
Selected provisions
21. (1) A woman has a right to adequate sexual and reproductive
health, which includes the right to—
(a) access sexual and reproductive health services;
(b) access family planning services;
(c) be protected from sexually transmitted infection;
(d) self-protection from sexually transmitted infections;
(e) choose the number of children and when to bear those
children;
(f) control fertility;
(g) reproductive rights education; and
(h) choose an appropriate method of contraception.
(2) Subject to any other written law, a woman has the right to
choose whether or not to have a child.
14. (1) The following shall apply in achieving gender equity
and equality:
(a) both sexes shall enjoy equal rights before the law;
(b) both sexes shall have equal access to justice and protection
before the law;
(c) all practices which are detrimental to the achievement of
the objectives of this Act are prohibited and, where
committed, shall be prosecuted under the appropriate
laws, without delay;
(d) both sexes shall have equal access and rights to credit,
capital, mortgages, security and training;
(e) both sexes shall have equal access to water rights and
property; and
(f) both sexes shall have equal access to modern, appropriate
and affordable technology and support services.
(2) A woman shall have the legal capacity to—
(a) conclude contracts and other legal instruments;
(b) acquire, own, inherit and administer property; and
(c) choose residence and domicile.