Laura Nyirinkindi Monitoring from a gender perspective; the APRM Continental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting System

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS of the MER It takes into recognition the gaps in gender analyses of most reports an NPOAs and the need to address these deficits It mainstreams gender indicators in the pillars although it falls into the trap of doing this well in DPG and SED and scantily Economic Governance and Corporate Governance

Quality of indicators- DPG Specific comments Quality of indicators- DPG In many sections, the reference is to Agenda 2063 and not SDGs. APRM has monitored systematically the MDSs which focused on gender equality Data for domestication should look beyond local laws passed and look at institutions that are set up according to those laws. For example, most gender machineries are underfunded and resourced, many institutions do not exist or operate functionally

Specific comments Indicators in DPG objective on Entrenching Constitutional democracy and and rule of law- the ones on Rule of law are too narrowly defined e.g. children in detention, prison escapes, gender balance in police. Need to refine them more broadly to include and beyond quantitative measures is numbers. Look at qualitative issues of adequacy of legal frameworks, accountability responses, capacity of institutions of law ie demand and supply side issues of legal environments etc

OBJECTIVE 4: promotion of human rights Specifics-DPG OBJECTIVE 4: promotion of human rights It generally avoids a rights based approach yet it is talking about rights. From a positive angle, what rights should be guranteed by governments and what is the quality of rights? It is iportant to look beyond the legislative framwork and look at human rights indicators e.g. instead of Freedom of information, indicator should define presence of free and independent media; instead of firearms owned by population, look at right to security of person issues, instead of abuse by law enforcement agents, accessibible and effective human rights adjudicatio mechanisms y, instead of voter turnout, look at indicators of free and fair elections.

COMMUNICATION AND REPORTING APRM must Deal with the tendency for MER reports to be submitted beyond useful time frames. The experience has been that National Programmes of Action are developed and reported on without most of the nationals being aware of content of the Progress reports. Often they are submitted to the Forum and not shared with citizens Ensure that reporting adheres to the MER recommended format rather than the vague, ambiguous reports that lack meaningful or qualitative/quantitative aspects.

Feedback mechanisms What will the feedback mechanisms to reports look like? Will the APRM Secretariat give feedback to countries and disseminate with nationals? E.g. concluding observations of the UN System