Chronicle Editor
Tapiwa Ncube, Correspondent
From November 25 to December 10, 2023, Zimbabwe, along with the rest of the world, commemorated 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
This is a campaign whose objective is to raise awareness on the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and girls and mobilise action to rid society of abuse permanently.
On November 25, the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and on December 10 it was Human Rights Day, therefore it is only fitting that the period covering these two important dates account for such noble activism.
Although GBV refers to both genders, women and girls are disproportionately affected as the victims, hence the focus being directed on them.
So what exactly is GBV? It is an umbrella term for harmful acts of abuse perpetrated against a person’s will and rooted in a system of unequal power between men and women.
According to the United Nations, this violence “results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
Globally, it is estimated that one in three women experience physical and/or sexual abuse in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organisation. Zimbabwe’s statistics are marginally higher than the world average at 40 percent of women from the age of 15 having experienced the same abuse.
Moreover, these estimates do not account for psychological abuse which is more insidious in nature and can be more complex to observe.
Aside from the obvious effects of GBV such as human rights violations and physical trauma, GBV has a great bearing on the mental health of both victims and the perpetrators. Victims are likely to suffer from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance misuse disorders, and suicide attempts.
Other victims of GBV such as children of the victim and/or perpetrator, or family members, friends who may be witnesses to it, are also likely to be affected by the same mental health issues. Children, in particular, who are at an impressionable age, have been observed to also become perpetrators of GBV when they grow up.
For perpetrators, on the other hand, depression, anxiety and lower self-esteem have all been observed to be risk factors. In other words, GBV perpetration may be predicted by depression, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. If left unchecked, the psychological trauma resulting from the effects of GBV can continue to affect societies and future generations disrupting the healthy functioning of communities.
There are many ways that GBV can be reduced, however, this article will focus on the most cost effective and sustainable ways. Breaking societal norms that contribute to GBV and promoting education on gender equality are some of the more practical ways of achieving this. This is because it sets the tone on changing the mindset of people about their flawed values and beliefs, particularly in Third World countries such as Zimbabwe.
Some examples of such problematic societal norms are: total submission of women to male family members; men having the right to discipline women for “incorrect” behaviour; and sexual harassment being considered normal, to mention a few. Educational workshops or programs that challenge such harmful attitudes and at the same time promote gender equality, conducted at schools, colleges, universities and in residential communities can be useful tools. This would go a long way in not only changing potential perpetrators’ attitudes, but would potentially also help change actual perpetrators’ harmful behaviours.
Access to mental health support is another crucial way to help curb the GBV scourge. As already pointed out, potential perpetrators of GBV tend to be victims of depression, anxiety and/or low self-esteem, therefore, the availability of counselling interventions for such individuals can be a suitable primary prevention intervention. Mental health support for survivors is also essential so as to reduce or eliminate the risks of them becoming victims again. Therapy also helps survivors regain or build their confidence and self-worth so that they are able to reintegrate into their communities as healthy functioning members of society.
Fostering social cohesion in communities is another effective method of reducing GBV at a community level. Social cohesion refers to the strength of relationships and the sense of solidarity among members of a community.
It is made up of four key components, namely, social relationships, connectedness, orientation towards the common good and equality. The concept of social cohesion is not a new phenomenon in African collectivist culture. Traditionally, African communities have always understood that a community is stronger and healthier when it is united and everyone works together as a unit. Unfortunately, because of the influence of Western culture, this phenomenon has been slowly eroded. When members of a community are connected and have a sense of belonging, they tend to support and look out for each other which reduces stress and in turn can lower the incidence of GBV in that community.
Mental health professionals such as psychologists, and counsellors are well suited in spearheading these methods mentioned above. Community psychologists, in particular, would be well placed in communities where GBV is rife as they take a holistic approach to work at community level to curb such social ills. In most major cities and towns in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Psychological Association has chapters that frequently work in communities offering such services. The fight against GBV is a worthy cause that must go beyond the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. It is a fight that calls for every one of us to advocate for victims and survivors.
Online Reporter