Abstract

The social protection of Southern African Development Community (SADC) residents is one of the central objectives of the SADC integration agenda. Evidence of this can also be seen in the various instruments adopted and/or concluded by SADC member states which are geared towards the promotion of adequate social protection in the region. These instruments include the SADC Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Social Rights, the Draft Protocol on Facilitation of Movement of Persons, the Code on Social Security, the Code on HIV/AIDS and Employment, the Declaration on Gender and Development, the Declaration on HIV and AIDS, and various other instruments dealing with issues such as occupational health and safety. This paper explores the extent to which the social protection dimension of the regional integration agenda has been realised. It evaluates the extent to which the development of social protection in the region has been given prominence in the evolving regional integration initiatives. This is achieved by examining the regional social protection and related instruments, their impact on ensuring the establishment of a SADC-wide social protection regime, and steps adopted to realise SADC’s social protection goals.