21 women raped every day in Zimbabwe

Madam Speaker, GBV has become a ‘national scourge’ that requires all stakeholders to redouble efforts to curb it, is beyond any doubt. The question that remains to be answered is what exact actions should we take, both as Parliament or as individual legislators to bring down these disturbing GBV statistics? November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. The 16 Days of Activism end on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day. During this time we need to take the opportunity to highlight key facts on GBV in the country. It is time to review the effectiveness of our GBV laws. It is time to explore the role of other actors and stakeholders in the prevention and mitigation of GBV. It is time review how to address the root causes of GBV, amongst them cultural norms and gender stereotypes. It is time to review how economic empowerment programmes interventions can be utilised to end women vulnerability and reduce GBV risks. The United Nations System’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence activities, is taking take place under 2020 global theme: “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect! As a country we are proud to join the international community in the commemoration and fighting GBV.

As we commemorate 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the Government for setting up One-Stop Centres in provinces. I have, however, to hasten to note that at the moment the Ministry has commissioned only four one stop centres in Makoni, Gwanda, Gweru and Chinhoyi. This is grossly inadequate, given that we have ten provinces and numerous districts. The Ministry needs to do more to ensure that the ordinary woman access GBV critical services. On the same note, the Ministry’s launch of mobile GBV campaigns will go a long way in curbing the scourge of GBV in the country. Again, the mobile campaigns have to spread to outlying areas of all the provinces. Allow me, Hon Speaker, at this juncture, to express the broadly shared concern that the Ministry has not provided safe shelters itself thus far, save for the one that, as of September 2020, was still under construction in Nemamwa, in Masvingo. All of the 11 safe shelters in the country are being run by Musasa Project. The clarion call that we are making as we commemorate 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, is that the Ministry should do more in terms of construction of its own structures at district levels.

Violence against women and girls is rooted in gender-based discrimination and social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate such violence. In this regard, GBV prevention should start early in life, by educating and working with young boys and girls to promote respectful relationships and gender equality. Cultural norms and harmful practices have to be reviewed and abandoned. Activities of 16 Days of Activism against Gender based violence will only be effective if they are inclusive and cascade to grassroots levels of all our communities. At institutional level, there is need dissemination and sharing information on cases of violence and sexual abuse, as well as supporting advocacy, awareness-raising, community mobilization and educational programmes, to change gender stereotype attitudes in communities. Fighting to end violence against women and girls should become a way of life for all, the police and the courts of law included, as well as the ordinary men in communities and villages. There is need for more male champions who will assist in changing attitudes against all forms of violence on women and girls as betrayal to families and government commitment towards protection of the rights of women. Given that a victim is sexually abused every 75 minutes in the country, Parliament should seriously consider and debate the need for GBV to be declared a “NATIONAL CRISIS’. This will assist the Government to adopt drastic measure to curb this scourge that is destroying the core part of all communities.

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