admin
EQUITY and equality are cornerstones of any development process.
However, these two outcomes can never be achieved in an environment where disparities lopsided against women and girl are the order of the day.
Gender Based Violence is one such social menace that brings about these discrepancies.
As such, the world has over the years united to speak with one voice against GBV.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is an international initiative that runs annually between November 25 and December 10 to campaign for an end to violence, especially against women and girls.
This was necessitated by the realisation that communities across the globe are grappling with the scourge on a daily basis.
The objective of the global campaign is centred around raising awareness so as to nip the problem in the bud through intensified efforts of a multi-sectoral approach.
Physical, psychological and sexual violence are some of the most common forms of GBV.
Verbal, economic, social and digital abuse also contribute to entrenching the problem.
Understanding the various types of the social menace is the first step to raising awareness and effectively or successfully tackling it.
Statistics on the scourge are damning.
Its adverse impact is profound and far-reaching.
Many are bearing the physical and emotional scars of GBV.
In addition, GBV derails social transformation and development.
The world urgently needs to eliminate GBV.
Government remains committed to combating the scourge as it is heavily involved, together with other stakeholders and development partners, in programmes that seek to end GBV.
The National GBV Strategy explicitly highlights prevention as key in addressing the problem.
Through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Government is empowering women to reduce the toll of GBV on communities.
During the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence at Hauna Growth Point in Mutasa District on Sunday, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvanga drove this message home.
It should be symbolic that the national launch was held in Manicaland as child forced marriages, which are one of the key drivers of GBV, are prevalent in the province.
Minister Mutsvangwa said ensuring that women and girls do not suffer in silence is central to spurring the country’s development agenda.
Ending all forms of GBV can accelerate Zimbabwe’s drive to achieve an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income society by 2030.
GBV is a vicious cycle that must end as soon as yesterday.
It must be replaced by a vicious cycle that recognises, respects and protects the rights of women and girls.
GBV, therefore, becomes a shared concern and collective responsibility.
Everyone has a role to play and we can all begin by advocating for the elimination of GBV during the commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism against the scourge.
Everyone has to contribute something because no one is safe from GBV until we all are.
The annual campaign will become hollow if it is not followed up and backed by concrete action.
Decisively acting to end GBV must go beyond the 16 days.
Online Reporter