Makarau applauds Govt for defending children’s rights

Speaking at the launch of the Multi-Sectoral Protocol on the Man­agement of Sexual Abuse and Vio­lence in Harare yester­day, Justice Makarau said the Government had incorporated into domestic law sev­eral international instruments and standards on the rights of children and women.

“It is my view that Zimbabwe must be applauded for being fairly sensi­tive to the rights of women and chil­dren.
“I say this because many of the international instruments and stan­dards on the rights of children and women have been incorporated into our domestic law and now form part of the body of our laws,” she said.

The protocol was adopted by vari­ous Government ministries and other stakeholders who have com­mitted themselves to collectively fight to achieve complete eradication of vio­lence and sexual abuse.
JSC co-ordinated the draft­ing of the document. 
Representatives from the min­istries of Media, Information and Publicity; Education, Sport, Arts and Cul­ture; Labour and Social Services; Health and Child Welfare; Women’s Affairs; Justice and Legal Affairs

and Local Government, Rural and Urban Development signed the document.

The police Victim Friendly Unit, Attorney General’s Office, Law Soci­ety of Zimbabwe, National Aids Council also authorised their repre­sentatives to sign the document.
UNICEF deputy country represen­tative Mr Marc Rubin said the idea was a noble one that is set to go a long way in eliminating abuse and vio­lence against children and women.
Mr Marc said the protocol would offer guidance on how abuse and vio­lence survivors could be assisted.

Each stakeholder, according to the protocol, has a role to play in the fight against sexual abuse and violence.
Justice Makarau said JSC pledged to ensure that magistrates complete hearing cases related to sexual abuse and violence within three days.

“I have promised on behalf of the Chief Magistrate that all trials of sex­ual nature shall, once commenced, be disposed of in three days.
“This assumes that the police would have completed the docket within seven days, that the probation officer’s report or the social welfare report will be prepared within seven days,” said Justice Makarau.

The protocol is anchored on 11 guiding principles, which include age, gender sensitivity, dignity, non-dis­crimination on any unjustified basis and participation.
The document also seeks to protect survivors of violence and sexual abuse. Zimbabwe has 17 victim friendly courts that are comple­mented by seven specialised child survivor clin­ics and a national net­work of victim friendly in almost every police sta­tion.