GBV limits women’s participation

ZIMBABWE Gender Commission chairperson, Margaret Sangarwe, said violence against women and girls has a significant economic cost.

Speaking at an interface with Mabvuku residents on Tuesady, she said violence against women limited their participation in the econoy.

“Violence against women and girls creates economic costs which include reduced productivity due to absenteeism, reduced women’s participation in the labour market and losses related to higher demand for health and judicial services.

“According to a UN 2016 report, the cost of violence against women amounts to US$1.5 trillion at global level and in Zimbabwe a study conducted by SIDA in 2009, estimated that the macro-economic cost of GBV amounts to US$2 billion,” she said.

Sangarwe said for gender equality to be achieved, there was a need to focus on empowering women economically.

“Women’s economic empowerment is key to the achievement of gender equality. It facilitates women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets, facilitates access to and control over productive resources, property and other productive assets. It further increases women’s voices and choices,” she said.

Sangarwe said economic empowerment was all about access to the control of resources.

She also emhpasised the need for women to have access to income, control of income at the household level and ownership of productive resources such as land and other assets.

“Further, the National Gender Policy proposes a number of strategies for addressing gender inequalities in the economic sector.

“The policy targets key economic sectors and potential sources of growth, particularly in mining, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.”