JCT and Girls Not Brides Consortium partners raise awareness on how GBV affects the girl child

Justice for Children teamed up with other partners in the Girls Not Brides Consortium, Zimbabwe Chapter, to raise awareness on how Gender Based Violence affects the girl child during the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. The campaign, which ran under the theme, 'Leave No one Behind: #EndViolenceAgainstGirlsandWomen' The other members of the GNB consortium included Plan International, Research and Advocacy Unit, Shamawari Yemwanasika, Girls Legacy and Issues Pane Nyaya who brought together girls to make a policy dialogue on why duty bearers should act on GBV against girls. Questions asked to the duty bearers, who included the Honourable MP for Epworth, Zaleri Makari, included why condoms were for free when girls were expected to buy pads and the need to protect girls from sexual abuse at the hands of even duty bearers such as teachers and care givers. JCT is supported by IM Swedish Development Partner.

At the Embassy of Canada the rights of girls and women is a central focus of our programming and interventions.We worked with Veritas last year to conduct research on the implementation of the landmark decision to ban child marriage in Zimbabwe. We also worked with Girls Legacy to empower girls at risk. This year we are working with Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights on issues of lack of access to healthcare services for victims of child and forced marriages.On the issue of the importance of male participation in the struggle to end Gender Based Violence we are also working this year with an organization by the name of Padare, an organization that promotes gender equality by working with men in areas with high rates of gender inequality to help them understand that value that equality brings to all members of society and the detriment that violence has on all members of the household.