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Phillipa Mukome -Chinhoyi
WOMEN play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable development in societies.
It is argued, well-educated, happy, and healthy women help create functional families, which in turn have the ultimate benefit to a country at large.
But, the proliferation of gender-based violence (GBV) against women is threatening to decimate communities across nations.
It is common knowledge that GBV is one of the major causes of family breakdowns and broken families are not good for any country.
According to the United Nations (UN), even before Covid-19 hit, violence against women had reached pandemic proportions with 243 million women and girls abused globally in the past year.
Back home, official statistics reveal that at least one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence.
Also, about one in four women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
Matinyanyira Nhamoinesu (18) (not her real name) has a heart-wrenching tale.
She is not only a survivor of rape but was conceived as a result of the despicable act. Her mother was raped by one of her uncles.
The abuse was kept a secret by the family.
When Matinyanyira was nine years, her mother got married and left her in the custody of her grandmother.
This marked the beginning of her hell on earth experience.
“My mother did not want anything to do with me so she left me when she got married to another man. She left me with my grandmother and never returned.
“That is when all the abuse started,” revealed Matinyanyira.
“I was raped since I was nine until I was 16 years by my two uncles. I was afraid, I had no one to talk to about the abuse.”
Matinyanyira only managed to report the rape cases after getting assistance from concerned members of the community.
Being raped or being treated violently affects the social life of one as they often lose confidence in everything due to feeling inferior.
Some even lose direction and do not even know if they are doing the right thing at home, school or workplace.
Gender-based violence also exists within the same sex.
Women are abusing other women physically when they fight for boyfriends and other domestic issues, they fight on social media and other platforms. This also happens among men.
Young boys are being raped by older men while women also rape children.
Both men and women are affected by gender-based violence even though indications show major perpetrators mostly as men.
Annually, the world marks 16 Days against GBV, especially against women and girls.
However, it is imperative that we do not just observe the laid down days but make every day a day of activism against the ill.
This is the only way we will be able to eradicate all forms of GBV.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, sister UN agencies and civil society have since scaled-up efforts against gender-based violence in communities.
They are increasing awareness of gender-responsive laws and services, the provision of health care, psychosocial support and legal aid to survivors of GBV.
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Zimbabwe has taken important steps through the 4P’s campaign (Prevention, Protection, Participation, Programmes) which is informed by the Africa unite to end violence against women campaign, the regional component of the UN Secretary General’s global UNiTE campaign.
Online Reporter