Zimbabwe Campign against GBV - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
December 12, 2022
Zimbabwean organisations rallied with strong messages against gender-based violence (GBV) during the annual international 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, which runs between November 25 and December 10.
The 2022 campaign was launched under the theme “unite, activism to end violence against women and girls.”
Women constitute 51 percent of Zimbabwe’s national population.
The following are some of the messages sent out by some women organisations in Zimbabwe this year,  advocating for an end to GBV which they say is rising significantly year by year.
As the commission we are concerned that despite enhancement of the Domestic Violence Act, and despite having Sections 51, 52 and 53 of the Constitution explicitly providing for the right to dignity, personal security and freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, cases of Gender-Based Violence continue to escape.
GBV remains both prevalent and vastly under-reported, as many survivors decide to suffer in silence rather than risk stigmatisation or due to lack of punitive and deterrent sentences. What is particularly saddening is the increase in rape cases and child marriages.
#STOPTHEBLEEDING
Talk about it! Do not stay in silence! Stand up against Gender-Based Violence and choose to live a happy life by standing up against people who disturb your peace and run your happiness. Let us join hands and fight against Gender-Based Violence
As we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, we want to remind the society to safeguard and inherent dignity of women and girls in Zimbabwe.
A national Hotline run by Musasa reportedly recorded more than 6 800 GBV-related calls for the period 30 March 2020 until the end of December 2020.
16 Days of Activism Against GBV is a time for us to reflect on the gains that we have made as a society towards eradicating GBV, to call upon each person to take responsibility and join hands with us as we work together to end GBV in Zimbabwe.
Can we stop sanitasing rape and child marriages. Can we create safe spaces for girls and women within home setup, within the communities that we are living in and acknowledging that we all have critical roles to play.
We are calling for stiffer penalties and mandatory sentences. We need to put an end to GBV.
Let’s unite and end violence against women and girls. Did you know? Gender-Based Violence refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. GBV is a serious violation of human rights and life threatening health and protection issue.
We encourage service providers especially those in the SRHR to provide GBV services that are disability inclusive so that women with disabilities can freely enjoy their right to services. According to the recent dialogues conducted by UNESCO Zimbabwe under the Spotlight initiative, women And Girls with Disabilities (WAGDs) are more vulnerable to GBV compared to those without disabilities.
Call for safe spaces of worship, we also call for doctrines that do not violate girls and women’s rights in the church. Religion as a social institution must also play a role in securing women’s rights.
Efforts to End Violence against Women should include diverse communication channels in our advocacy initiatives so as to leave no one behind.
Violence is not the solution, it’s the problem, let us find peaceful ways to solve our differences.
Act4Women is pushing for the end to all forms of violence against women and girls, during and after the #16DaysOfActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence. Women and girls are continuing to reel under physical and sexual abuse.
Recent statistics reveal that at least 220 minors were raped between January and September this year, in addition to 959 sexual violence and 1 038 domestic violence cases reported. According to police reports, out of 435 rape cases reported between the period, 58% involved minors.
“We are working with traditional & religious leaders as they have the power to change our communities to be violence free”- @Edinah Masiyiwa, WAG Executive Director sharing on WAG’s #HeForShe campaign at the He Can Men’s Conference
#HerVoice
#16DaysOfActivismAgainstGBV
In a bid to end Gender Based Violence, it is also vital to educate men and boys on the importance of women empowerment as a way of raising awareness against GBV.
WiPSU unites with the rest of the world in eliminating violence against women and girls.
We unite against Child Marriages – Child rape! We unite against Violence against Women in Elections! We unite against Violence against Women & Girls. We unite against Gender Based Violence!
#16DaysOfActivism #16Days16Rights
SOURCES
Zimbabwe Gender Commission
Act For Women
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
This factsheet was compiled by Bridget Mabanda, an intern at ZimFact and the deputy news editor of a college fact checking club at Harare Polytechnic initiated by ZimFact.