adminSTRIDES being made by women’s organisations to promote sexual reproductive health and research (SRHR) in both rural and marginalised areas are most welcome.
According to medical experts, “sexual and reproductive health” can be defined as a person’s right to a healthy body and au-tonomy, education and health care.
These rights are also enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The subject also tackles ways of how to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancies.
Being a topical issue, countrywide, women’s rights defenders and advocates for safe sex have been holding several cam-paigns on SRHR.
The timely campaign, which is meant to empower young people with knowledge, has proved to be effective in eradicating early child marriages and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Over the years, a number of women’s rights organisations operated mainly in urban areas, neglecting the rural child.
This is set to become a thing of the past with a number of organisations now focusing on the rural areas.
One such organisation, which has penetrated most rural areas, is Women Excel Trust.
Last weekend, the organisation – under the Girls Education and Advocacy (GEAR) programme – empowered 20 Guruve youths during a workshop on SRHR.
Under the initiative, a number of volunteers are set to benefit from the training to campaign against child rape, child mar-riages and risky sexual behaviour.
Guruve is one of the areas where young girls’ rights are being violated in Mashonaland Central.
Child marriages are also prevalent in the area as some parents are marrying off daughters as young as 13 and 14.
Poverty and various religious beliefs have fuelled this practice.
Artisanal miners, who have also invaded most parts of Mashonaland Central, are also known for luring young girls into risky sexual behaviour with money.
While Women Excel Trust has managed to conscientise young people in the area, a lot is now expected from the organisa-tion to step up the campaign in other parts of the country.
What makes their campaign worthwhile is that they are visiting hot spots where such cases are rampant.
Added to that, they are also using the outreach programmes to raise awareness against drug and substance abuse.
The move by Women Excel Trust should inspire other organisations fighting for the same cause to take their campaigns to the rural areas.
Victims of sexual abuse and child marriages should be empowered with knowledge to expose the perpetrators of abuse. It’s high time sex predators and drug peddlers should be brought to book.
For a change, training young people to help others should be given priority by the Government and various stakeholders since SRHR remains a priority in life.
Experts should be hired to impart their knowledge during workshops while victims should also share their experiences with guests.
Being a special right, SRHR should be given top priority while women’s rights organisations should cast their nets wider.
Online Reporter