SINCE 1991, the period from 25 November to 10 December is set aside for the international commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
In 2022, the international theme for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.”
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and its partners – Musasa Project, Diocese of Mutare Community Care Program, Emthonjeni Women’s Forum and Caritas Masvingo – have joined the rest of the world in recognising this important period under the localised theme “Enhancing the Inclusion of Youths in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.”
As organisations that interact with women and girls, ZLHR and its partners are gravely concerned with the growing numbers of women that are losing their lives due to gender-based violence (GBV).
One in three women from all economic and educational backgrounds and sectors of society, are being subjected to GBV. This includes young women aged between 16-30 years, in their prime years, who should be living fulfilling lives beneficial to them and society at large. Adolescent girls and young women are suffering from all forms of sexual violence, rape and abuse, and a culture of silencing them has made them even more vulnerable. Young girls who have not even reached puberty, are being sexually violated and impregnated.
The abuse has been particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, when governments imposed strict lockdowns that restricted movement of people. During this period, the mental health effects of isolation resulted in increased perpetration of gender-based violence, at a time when there has been greatly restricted access to and provision of services for victims. Up to now, most communities are still recovering from the effects of the lockdowns.
This year’s commemorations are coming at a time when ZLHR and its partners are approaching the end of a six-year pilot Women Empowerment project that was implemented in Insiza, Bikita and Mutasa with the support of Irish Aid. During the project implementation period ZLHR and its partners noted many challenges faced by survivors of GBV in Zimbabwe. Women and girls that report domestic violence and sexual offences are facing delayed justice, with cases dragging on in courts without being finalised. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and social welfare departments are not adequately resourced, resulting in some perpetrators going unpunished. There are insufficient shelters for women to access the necessary psycho-social services, legal services and economic empowerment trainings and skills required to overcome their harmful situations. Government departments mandated to address violence against women and girls are also inadequately resourced, resulting in them being unable to respond in certain emergency situations. This has resulted in the continued loss of lives of women and girls, and the increased pregnancies of teenagers and young girls too young to even know about sexual relations.
Therefore, in its efforts to UNITE and promote activism to end violence against women and girls, ZLHR calls upon government and other key stakeholders to:
- Promote a culture among all communities that is gender-sensitive, including through increasing awareness of gender responsive laws and policies.
- Provide prompt accessible service provision for survivors, including the provision of shelters, legal aid, psycho-social support and income -generation and livelihood opportunities.
- Avail adequate resources, both human and financial, to government departments mandated to assist in GBV cases, particularly the Social Services Department, ZRP Victim Friendly Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority.
- Take practical steps to implement laws against child marriages across the broad spectrum of society.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Kodzero/Amalungelo House
No. 103 Sam Nujoma Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone: (+263 8677005347, +263 242 764085/705370/708118
Email: info@zlhr.org.zw
www.zlhr.org.zw
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