Report all forms of GBV
ZIMBABWE has joined the world in commemorating the 2023 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV). The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) plays a crucial role in organising and promoting the 16 days of activism against GBV in the country. Below, we reproduce the commission’s statement on the commemorations.
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STATEMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE 2023 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
1. The Zimbabwe Gender Commission joins the world in the 2023 commemorations of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which are being held under the national theme “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”.
2. The Zimbabwe Gender Commission is one of the five independent commissions established in terms of Sections 232 (c) and 245 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and operationalised through the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31), with the overall mandate of promoting, protecting and advancing gender equality as provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
3. This year’s theme calls on citizens to show how much they care about and are committed to investing to prevent violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women and girls.
This year’s campaign also calls on governments to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
4. As we embark on these 16 days of activism, it is crucial to acknowledge the prevalence of gender-based violence in various spheres of Zimbabwean society.
Incidents of violence against women and girls persist in private and public spaces, in the family, homes, workplaces and schools, among other institutions, underscoring the urgency of robust preventative measures.
5. While progressive steps have been taken by Government to address gender-based violence, the commission notes with great concern that cases of gender-based violence in all its forms — physical, sexual, psychological and economic — continue to escalate. The commission is seized with investigating complaints of GBV, including sexual harassment, at various workplaces across the country.
6. The commission is also concerned by the high prevalence of child marriages in the country. Statistics from the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey demonstrate that child marriage is disproportionately affecting more girls than boys, with 34 percent of girls being married before the age of 18, while for boys it is 2 percent. In Manicaland province, 36 percent of girls are married before the age of 18, and boys at 3 percent. These percentages are higher than the national figures.
7. The commission embarked on a national inquiry into child marriages in 2022, which confirmed that child marriage is not only prevalent in certain Apostolic sects, but is also a widespread national pandemic. The commission will, in 2024, embark on provincial dissemination of the inquiry findings.
8. In addressing GBV, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission is lobbying for the enactment of a Sexual Harassment Act, which will explicitly define sexual harassment and offer more deterrent penalties.
In line with our function “of advising public and private institutions on steps to be taken to ensure gender equality’’, the commission, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation, developed the Strategy on Violence and Sexual Harassment at the Workplace. We also developed a sexual harassment and GBV training manual.
Both frameworks guide organisations to come up with workplace policies and guidelines to end sexual harassment.
In addition, the commission has also been conducting sexual harassment awareness programmes at the workplace and tertiary institutions.
9. In reflecting on this year’s theme, the commission invites all Zimbabweans to introspect on how best we can unite to invest financially, materially, technically and through human resources to prevent GBV in general and violence against women and girls (VAWG) in particular.
10. It is the commission’s sincerest hope that institutions will invest financial and human resources to roll out the strategy and manual to ensure personal security, in line with Section 52 of the national Constitution, in upholding the right to personal security.
11. ZGC, as a constitutional body, invests in monitoring implementation of the Constitution, receiving and investigating complaints from the public, researching and advising public and private institutions, through recommendations, to address laws, practices and customs contravening the Constitution.
We remain concerned that while media reports publicise GBV regularly, not enough publicity exists on prosecution and conviction, which we believe would instil public confidence in the justice delivery process and, to some extent, act as a deterrent!
12. As ZGC, therefore, we reiterate our commitment to prevent VAWG through legal and policy reviews, strengthening institutional frameworks, public education and transforming harmful practices.
13. We will continue to work with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs); and all other progressive forces towards eliminating GBV in general and VAWG in particular.
Call to action
14. ZGC calls upon every member of society to recognise their role in preventing violence against women and girls as a shared responsibility that extends beyond legislative measures to encompass cultural shifts, awareness and active participation.
15. In workplaces, ZGC calls upon employers to create safe environments free from harassment and discrimination. Investing in awareness programmes and comprehensive policies matched by practice is essential.
16. In tertiary institutions, ZGC calls upon all decision makers to prioritise gender
sensitivity and inclusivity, investing in training and policies that prevent violence.
17. ZGC calls upon schools to implement robust child-protection measures, ensuring a secure environment for all learners.
18. In homes, ZGC calls upon communities and families to foster a culture of respect and equality, addressing harmful practices and promoting healthy relationships.
19. ZGC invites each and every individual, institution and community to act collectively and decisively, investing in multi-level efforts to prevent GBV, particularly among marginalised communities, including women and girls with disability, who find themselves with intersectional vulnerabilities to GBV.
20. We urge Government to be decisive on the status of the Anti-Domestic Council, a mechanism designed to escalate national prevention of this form of violence but which appears to be of low priority.
Through collective investment and action, we can create a society where every individual thrives, irrespective of gender.
21. We also call upon survivors and the community at large to report all forms of GBV to the police or to the commission for justice and redress.
Our ZGC toll-free numbers for reporting any gender-related violations are: ◆ TelOne: 08004508
◆ Econet: 08080644
◆ NetOne: 0718 222 210
◆ WhatsApp: 0719 554 465
To ensure increased access by the public, ZGC is also opening new offices in Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Midlands provinces next year.
ZGC — for Gender Equality!