admin
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE United Nations has hailed Government for its effective partnership under the United Nations Global Spotlight Initiative, a programme that aims to end violence against women and girls with the financial support of the European Union.
Speaking during the national launch of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Mutasa recently, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ambassador Edward Kallon, said the initiative has enabled various stakeholders to work together to address the root causes and consequences of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the country.
He said the initiative has so far reached out to more than two million people across the country through campaigns.
“The United Nations commends the Government of Zimbabwe for its successful collaboration with the UN on the Spotlight Initiative. The initiative has made significant investments in prevention efforts, reaching out to over two million people through campaigns, and directly engaging 50 000 individuals in five provinces through the increased advocacy by gender champions and implementing partners.
“We especially applaud the High-Level Political Compact (HLPC) on ending GBV and harmful practices in Zimbabwe, signed by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa. This commitment demonstrates a bold dedication to sustained political commitment and engagement at the highest level in the fight against violence targeting women, girls, and harmful practices,” he said.
Mr Kallon said it is essential to allocate more resources to prevention services for GBV to reduce the tremendous health, legal, and productivity costs that countries continue to bear due to this scourge.
“As we strive to secure investments in preventing violence against women and girls, we should leverage the achievements of the Spotlight Initiative and the HLPC,” he said.
Mr Kallon also said UN will continue supporting Government in driving shifts in policy and regulatory frameworks, facilitating the development of bankable projects, attracting financing from various sources, and providing capacity-building support to public institutions and civil society.
“By harnessing the expertise and networks of the entire UN system in Zimbabwe, I want to recommit that we will work with diverse stakeholders to support Government’s efforts to accelerate progress on gender equality at all levels and end violence against women and girls.
“By embracing an integrated approach, harnessing technology, and innovation, mobilising financing, and strengthening collaboration and coordination, we can pave way for gender equality. Let us ensure that all members of the society, particularly women and girls who represent over 50 percent of the population, have an equal footing, voice, choice, agency, and role in society, commensurate with their male counterparts,” he said.
He said it was high time that we acknowledged that any form of violence against women and girls is a stain on humanity as it hampers peace, security and sustainable development.
Mr Kallon also said there is need to leverage all financing flows, which could be public and private, national, and international, in order to finance initiatives that help fight GBV in the country.
“While national budgets remain an important source of financing, public funds alone will not suffice. Government should continue exploring innovative instruments to bridge the financing gap. This entails engaging international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, the private sector, remittances, philanthropic foundations and other sources. Let us stay united as we try and combat all forms of violence and address their underlying causes,” he said.
In an interview, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, emphasised that under the Global Spotlight Initiative programme, Government made a commitment and a declaration to end GBV and harmful practices.
“Government has remained committed to ending GBV in all its forms, and efforts are being put in place to ensure that prevention and response services are available to everyone. Under the Global Spotlight Initiative programme, which was also being implemented in this province (Manicaland), our Government with the support from the United Nations and European Union has made a commitment and a declaration to ending GBV and harmful practices,” she said.
Online Reporter