adminKudakwashe Chidziya Manicaland Correspondent
CHURCHES have advocated for inclusive access on sexual and gender based violence information in order to address the continuous rise of gender based violence cases.
Addressing SGBV has been considered vital towards meeting the 2030 target of zero new HIV infections.
Start Awareness Support Action Faith, a Christian allied organisation, held a three-day workshop with various stakeholders to promote access to inclusive sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) and sexual gender based violence (SGBV) information.
SASA Faith programme coordinator Mr Ian Munhungewarwa said there was need to provide educational material meant to inform people on the negative effects of SGBV.
“Biblically, we say knowledge is power.
“Likewise, there is need to inform people on the effects of SGBV on both parties, the perpetrator and the victim. Recently, information gathered from local churches and traditional leaders we work with in Mutasa, at least one GBV case is reported daily. In over 50 percent of the reported cases, women are the victims,” he said.
Mr Munhungewarwa said reports from some of the church leaders had shown that perpetrators use religion to justify their actions.
“From our survey, it is worrying that religion is also being used as a tool to fuel gender based violence by some perpetrators who deliberately misinterpret the Bible. Religion must not be used as a tool for gender violence.
Online Reporter