Tag Archives: child marriages

22 women raped daily in Zim

Stakeholders who attended the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence Chiefs Indaba pose for group photo

 

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

 

TWENTY-TWO women are raped daily in Zimbabwe, while one is abused every 75 minutes and an average of 646 are sexually abused each month, Swedish Ambassador, His Excellency Per Lindgärde, has said.

Ambassador Lindgärde revealed further that one in three girls under 18 is married in Zimbabwe.

He revealed these shocking statistics at Kakora Primary School in Mazowe, during the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence Chiefs Indaba.

The event was organised by Population Solutions for Health (PSH), with support from the Embassy of Sweden and in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.

The indaba was attended by 16 Chiefs, Village Heads and other stakeholders.  

“Globally every 10 minutes, a woman is killed.

“In Zimbabwe, 22 women are raped daily; one woman is abused every 75 minutes, and an average of 646 women are sexually abused each month. One in 3 girls under 18 is married, shocking and sobering statistics.

“The 16 Days of Activism and any other day of the year, we should reflect on these disturbing statistics.

“All these statistics represent more than just numbers; they reflect the lives of women and girls who are someone’s mother, daughter, sister, niece, or aunt-each suffering the pain and trauma of assault, rape, maiming, or murder at the hands of a man or boy.

“Tragically, few are reported or brought to justice,” said Ambassador Lindgärde.

He added that it was unfortunate that the home remains the most dangerous place for women and girls, as most of the women victims are killed by intimate partners, husband or boyfriend) or a family-related homicide (father, brother, son).

Ambassador Lindgärde reiterated that Chiefs and Village Heads and other authorities had a duty to be symbols of unity and tolerance, as they are best placed to reverse the epidemic of GBV.

“You can address the systematic, social inequality and disempowerment of women at the grassroots level.

“In your villages you can engage men to be activists in countering GBV.

“You can create an enabling environment for increased reporting, referral and support of GBV cases.

“As leaders you can encourage families to ensure that girls and boys stay in school and complete their education. It’s important that they learn that all human beings are equal in dignity and worth.”

He also revealed that his country is firmly committed to preventing and responding to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and child marriages in Zimbabwe.

“We work actively to ensure that women and girls can decide for themselves over their lives and bodies.

“Through the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” campaign, our partner Population Solutions for Health (PSH) is rallying men to be agents of change, to be allies in the fight against gender-based violence.

“There is also the “Give Me a Chance” campaign seeking to end early child marriages in the communities.

“We have also established a toll-free line where violence survivors can also call for help and support.

“I want to applaud you all, Chiefs and Village Heads for rallying behind these campaigns.

“Sweden takes pride in being part of these efforts that aim to bring dignity and respect to girls and women.

“Let me conclude by emphasising that, the vision of an inclusive world, free of discrimination and gender- based violence, and the realisation of this vision requires the commitment of every one of us.

“There are many ways in which, together we can and should make a difference. Let us commit today to continually – In our day-to-day work, challenge ourselves institutionally and personally to raise awareness and stand against gender-based violence,” added Ambassador Lindgärde.

Speaking at the same event, PSH Executive Director and Managing Trustee, Dr Noah Taruberekera said it was humbling to see Chiefs taking part in discussions aimed at effectively addressing GBV.

He also paid tribute to the government for the support to implement their programmes in the community.

“I would also like to express my gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden for their funding support which has enabled us to spread the message against GBV and Child Marriages through initiatives like the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” project and the “Give Me A Chance” campaign.

“GBV is also closely linked to drug use, and we appreciate the continued support from the Swedish Embassy in our efforts to combat drug and substance use under the “Strength is In You” campaign.

“GBV is high in Zimbabwe, where some men misuse their physical strength to beat, rape, and kill women.

“It also includes child marriages, where young girls under the age of 18 are forced into marriage against their will.

“This is why we have gathered here as Chiefs, Village Heads, and men-because only we can solve this problem.

“The power to stop gender-based violence and child marriages in Zimbabwe lies in our hands.”

He added: “to the Chiefs, your role in shaping traditional norms is crucial in eliminating GBV and child marriages.

“Your voices are listened to. During the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, we therefore urge you, as 16 Chiefs, to make solid commitments to prevent these practices.

“There is No Excuse for Gender-Based Violence. Let us all unite to create a Zimbabwe where mothers, sisters, and daughters can feel safe in their homes and villages.

“And this begins with each of us-let’s act against GBV together, starting today.”

Several Chiefs revealed that the programmes to protect women and girls were vital so as to eliminate GBV and child marriages.

PSH reports that the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” campaign is an anti-GBV campaign that engages men as change makers, promotes gender equality, and increases the number of individuals who believe that gender-based violence should not be tolerated in their communities.

It (campaign) is centered around the universal theme of love and music, aiming to engage male perpetrators of violence and encourage them to end such behaviour.

And by collaborating with men in the community, local leaders, and a group of musicians, the campaign sparked a movement uniting men and women against GBV.

The “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” campaign further encourages men to raise their hand to love, not to beat their partners.

The “Give Me A Chance. I am a Child not A Wife” campaign is an anti-child marriage campaign that puts girls at the forefront of demanding an opportunity to fulfil their dreams and achieve a better future.

And the “Give Me A Chance. I am a Child, not a Wife” campaign works with community leaders, including chiefs and village heads to end early child marriages in their communities.

 

“Inspire Inclusion: Combating HIV, Advancing Rights”

Jane Kalweo – UNAIDS Country Director, Zimbabwe

BY JANE KALWEO

The world is significantly off course in meeting the gender targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the current pace, it will take an estimated 300 years to eradicate child marriage, 140 years to achieve equal representation of women in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to attain equal representation in national parliaments.

 

As of December 2023, women’s representation in Zimbabwe’s Parliament stood at 34%, falling short of global targets on gender parity in legislative bodies. However, evidence has shown that when women lead, they contribute to more just, equitable, and inclusive societies. Women encounter numerous challenges when running for public office.  Addressing legal and policy environments and other barriers that limit women’s political participation is crucial to leveling the playing field. To foster more just and equitable societies, we need to advance the agenda of proportional representation for men and women in parliament. Given that women face a disproportionate burden of HIV, women leadership would significantly contribute to legal and policy reforms that address gaps and barriers in the HIV continuum of care for women and children.

 

The global debt crisis and pandemics are reducing investment in education, health, and social protection, disproportionately affecting women and girls. Unequal access to education has left 122 million girls out of school, denying them lifesaving information on how to protect themselves from HIV. The unprecedented disruption to education during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated inequalities in access to education for girls. School closures and economic hardships increased the risk of child marriages as families sought to alleviate financial burdens. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 1174 cases of child marriages were recorded, and 4959 girls became pregnant.

 

The SDG of ending AIDS by 2030 is also at risk. Every week in 2022, 4000 adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 became infected with HIV globally, largely due to inequalities in accessing HIV services. When girls’ rights to education and empowerment are realized, their vulnerability to HIV is reduced. In Zimbabwe, HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women is more than three times higher than among their male counterparts. Many factors increase the vulnerability of girls and young women, including harmful gender norms such as gender-based violence, gender inequalities that exclude them from economic opportunities, and poverty. The Zimbabwean government, through the Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP) IV Addendum, has committed to reducing inequalities to less than 10% of women and girls experiencing gender-based inequalities and gender-based violence in efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

 

Despite many challenges, women in Zimbabwe have been at the forefront of driving change and leading in the HIV response since the beginning of the pandemic. However, funding shortages, capacity gaps, and regulatory environments limit their ability to effectively contribute to the agenda of ending AIDS by 2030. There is a need for sustained investment in independent, autonomous feminist movements. Progress can only be sustained by putting power in the hands of those whose lives are most impacted by the denial of rights.

 

The health of young women and girls today is too often shaped by gender-based inequalities and gender-based violence, which increases the risk of HIV infection. One in three women worldwide experience sexual or gender-based violence. Gender-based violence remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations affecting women in Zimbabwe. The ZDHS 2015 estimates that one in three women aged between 15 and 49 has experienced physical violence, and one in four women have experienced sexual violence. Addressing gender inequality and gender-based violence is critical to ending AIDS and accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs.

 

UNAIDS Commends the Government of Zimbabwe for showing its commitment to ending gender-based violence through the 2023-2030 National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. The strategy highlights priority areas for the country and outlines specific actions and strategies for the government and society in their efforts to prevent and respond to GBV in general, and violence against women and girls in particular.

 

Prevalence rates for child marriages in Zimbabwe remain unacceptably high. An estimated 34% of girls are married before reaching 18 years, and 5% before the age of 15. Ending child marriages and their devastating consequences on the health, development, and well-being of adolescent girls and young women is critical for the advancement of their human rights. The Zimbabwean government has committed to ending child marriages through the Marriages Act and has gazetted the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Bill, 2024. These instruments criminalize the marriage and facilitation of marriage of anyone under the age of 18.

 

To protect women and girls’ economic and social rights, there is a need to fully invest in women to achieve the 2030 SDGs. This investment is not just about financial resources; it’s about creating an environment where women and girls can thrive, free from violence and discrimination, and where they can realize their full potential.

 

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, UNAIDS reiterates the need to empower women, combat HIV, advance rights, and position women at the center of HIV response, Human rights, and empowerment.