adminLoverage Nhamoyebonde Features Correspondent
It is now more than 18 months since Tsitsi Shoko (39) was severely assaulted by her husband resulting in her fracturing her neck. The assault reportedly took place when the husband asked him wife to serve him more meat.
Shoko told him that there was nothing left and this sparked a heated argument. Gift Chikwatu (27) reportedly grabbed and tossed her to the ground, resulting in her fracturing her neck.
Today, the woman is using a wheelchair as she is no longer able to walk.
She regrets ever marrying her husband. Many people have suffered permanent injuries as a result of gender based violence (GBV).
This is supported by a marked increase in the number of both male and female who suffer domestic violence who are living with disabilities.
According to the Violence Against Women Baseline Study (2013) conducted by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development and Gender Links, 19 percent of women who were physically abused on an average of three counts sustained permanent disability such as “blindness, deafness, seizures, loss of mobility, hospitalisation for broken bones, concussions, head and spinal injuries, infertility, cuts and trauma,” among other effects.
Campaigns against GBV must not focus on the able-bodied only.
The failure to include all affected groups in campaigns has drawn criticism from some sectors of society.
People with disabilities are among groups that feel they are being sidelined by non-governmental organisations and government in the campaigns that advocate for the eradication of GBV.
“Programmes that are meant to raise awareness on GBV are not inclusive as they leave out disabled persons. In coming up with policies, responsible authorities do not address the special needs of the physically challenged,” said Mr. Ceedy Chitsiwa, who uses a wheelchair.
Chitsiwa said most of the workshops on gender-based violence were conducted in venues that were not disability-friendly, a clear indication that organisers do not have the disabled in mind.
“Lack of Braille material and sign language specialists during workshops and campaigns against gender-based violence are depriving the disabled of their right to information,” said Chitsiwa.
Bright Kadengu, another person who uses a wheelchair, said advocacy groups do not recognise them as vulnerable.
“The Government and representative organisations must develop policies that ensure that people with disabilities actively participate in the drive against gender-based violence.
“Policy makers must also consult people with disabilities in crafting policies and stop viewing them as not capable of making meaningful contributions,” said Kadengu.
Kadengu added that persons with disabilities must occupy decision-making positions in Government departments and non-governmental organisations so that their interests are addressed.
This conviction is shared by the Disabled Women’s Support Organisation (DWSO).
Mrs Rejoice Timire, DWSO executive director, said Government must ensure full representation of persons with disabilities in its programmes.
“Persons with disabilities must speak for themselves and be able to tell their own stories of gender-based violence. Representative organisations and government departments must stop speaking on behalf of people with disabilities and treating them as secondary citizens,” said Mrs Timire.
In addition the Government should ensure that programmes are inclusive.
“The Government must ensure that important documents are converted to Braille and packaged in audio format to cater for the hearing and visually-impaired.
“People must be sincere when they claim to support people with disabilities in dealing with gender-based violence. Genuine support will only be achieved by consulting persons with disabilities something which no one is willing to do at the moment.
“It is not fair to claim any support while there is no buy-in involvement of persons affected,” said Timire.
She added: “If you are a married person, the moment you become disabled your marriage will break up and everything you have worked for will be taken away from you because people will start viewing you as someone who is no longer able to think or do anything. Many women who gave birth to physically challenged babies were divorced.”
Society views men who give birth to physically challenged babies as weak. These men will be a laughing stock and in most cases they desert their families.
“It is very difficult for a man in our society to face the consequences of giving birth to a physically challenged baby due to stigma and discrimination,” said a 45 year-old man who is a resident of Kuwadzana Extension, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Understanding the special needs of persons with disabilities will go a long way towards addressing the gender disparities among people with disabilities, some of them whose condition is a direct result of GBV.
The draft national gender policy 2013 — 2017 does not categorically state how the responsible ministry and other stakeholders intend to address the special needs of persons with disabilities in the drive to fight GBV.
A senior official in the Ministry of Women Affairs Gender and Community Development said the document did not specifically mention persons with disabilities but it takes cognisance of their special needs.
“The document ensures that there is gender mainstreaming in all government programmes and these include programmes meant for persons with disabilities.
“When doing GBV programmes and international events like 16 days of activism against gender-based violence we work with several organisations representing people with disabilities. I understand their concern that we might not be reaching them as effectively as they would expect. The challenges facing women with disabilities are different from those facing the able bodied and there is need for a research to explore GBV issues facing women with disabilities,” she said.
She said that statistics received by the ministry from the police show that women with disabilities are being raped as people took advantage of their vulnerability.
“Most women with disabilities owing to their condition cannot defend themselves from rapists. Some are hearing, speech or visually impaired and some use wheelchairs hence limiting their self defence. The government must take measures to ensure that vulnerable groups are fully protected,” she explained.
She, however, encouraged associations representing persons with disabilities to be sincere and start advocating for the rights of women with disabilities by coming up with effective action plans.
“These associations must come forward and help the ministry to come up with an action plan on how we can work with persons with disabilities to fight gender-based violence,” she said.
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