daniel chigunwe
Speech by Dr Jenfan Muswere, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting services at the Zimbabwe Media Awards Sector Sexual harassment policy validation workshop.
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It is my singular honour and utmost privilege to grace this auspicious event to discuss and adopt a policy framework aimed at creating a safe media working environment in our newsrooms.
This initiative comes at the backdrop of so many loud calls from various stakeholders on the urgent need to deal with cases of sexual harassment which have become prevalent in the media industry.
This has actually become a scourge with sex pests on the prowl, thus making our newsrooms unsafe.
In the past sexual harassment was widespread among females however, all sexes are now being affected.
Ladies and gentlemen, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct of sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and or intimidated.
It can be physical, verbal and non-verbal.
The act is a violation of human rights and a form of sexual discrimination.
Sexual harassment is a vice prevalent in most countries and Zimbabwe is no exception.
It is a global societal problem that undermines integrity, credibility and quality of work.
Victims of sexual harassment may experience a range of negative consequences, including physical and mental health problems, career interruptions and disruptions.
It is this regard that my Ministry values employees in the media sector with an obligation to ensure a safe working environment especially now as we nudge towards the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by the year 2030. Sustained
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal number five states that, “Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world”.
I am made to understand that the Media Sectoral Harassment Policy initiative is a response to public outcry for urgent interventions by Government.
My Ministry is equally concerned about this challenge after interactions with various stakeholders at different fora where the issue continued to recur.
It is encouraging that the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) which is mandated to regulate the media industry by the Constitution, has seen it necessary and urgent that there be a policy framework to provide redress in instances where cases of sexual harassment are reported in our media working environment.
The workplace needs to be safe for everyone to enjoy work and be productive.
This policy is a step in the right direction and will encourage victims to come forward and report cases of sexual harassment.
I implore the media managers to be guided by morality and work ethics. The media must extensively cover and expose cases of sexual harassment without fear of favour.
Sexual harassment is like any other crime which should be reported promptly.
This policy will protect sexual harassment victims so that they do not fear to report for fear of victimisation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Zimbabwe is signatory to and made commitments to a number of international human rights treaties aimed at guaranteeing the rights and safety for all in various circumstances.
More so, the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 56, provides a strong framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and men, girls and boys in Zimbabwe.
It recognises the equality of all persons and goes further to explicitly outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sex or gender.
The country also enacted the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act whose mandate is to provide for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to perform, investigate and make recommendations on the removal of barriers to the attainment of full gender equality.
I would like to appreciate the efforts by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in developing a national Strategy for the Elimination of Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence in the Workplace in line with the ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206.
Also to note is the launch of the Sexual Harassment policy by the Public Service Commission to provide for a safe working environment in the public service.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me once again applaud the ZMC and their partner WAN-INFRA for convening this gathering aimed at ensuring zero tolerance to sexual harassment at workplaces in the media sector.
Together we can fight this menace.
Online Reporter