News / National
Women timid to report gender based violence
02 Dec 2016 at 09:03hrs | Views
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chairperson on gender and Goromonzi legislator Biata Nyamupinga has said male involvement in eradicating gender-based violence is key.
According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey the prevalence of gender-based violence stood at 47 % among women.
Speaking during the Election Resource Centre (ERC) sponsored radio show to commemorate 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based violence, Nyamupinga said men's involvement play a critical role.
"For a long time we have been talking to the converted, we have been talking to ourselves because we have always been the victims, so we have always been talking to ourselves but now I'm very happy that we are involving men.
"Actually a lot of men, even in Parliament, are running with it (Activism against gender based violence)," Nyamupinga said.
The ERC seeks to increase citizens, particularly women and youth engagement and influence.
Feminist and human rights activist, Sally Dura said men are an important element in the equation.
"Men involvement has become key. Male MPs signed a pledge to commit that they will do something about ending child marriages in their constituencies," Dura said.
Dura said despite milestone achievements on paper women are still suffering from the violence.
"While we have progressive constitution on woman and gender equality and while Zimbabwe is a signatory to the SADC Gender Protocol on Gender and Development and many regional and International commitments that the government of Zimbabwe has put in place including the establishment of the national gender implementation machinery which is the Gender Commission and the Ministry of Women Affairs which is decentralized, we continue to realize that women cannot assert or enjoy their right because of violence against them," Dura said.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is a global campaign dedicated to ending gender-based violence.
It seeks to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels regarding violence against women.
According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey the prevalence of gender-based violence stood at 47 % among women.
Speaking during the Election Resource Centre (ERC) sponsored radio show to commemorate 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based violence, Nyamupinga said men's involvement play a critical role.
"For a long time we have been talking to the converted, we have been talking to ourselves because we have always been the victims, so we have always been talking to ourselves but now I'm very happy that we are involving men.
"Actually a lot of men, even in Parliament, are running with it (Activism against gender based violence)," Nyamupinga said.
The ERC seeks to increase citizens, particularly women and youth engagement and influence.
Feminist and human rights activist, Sally Dura said men are an important element in the equation.
"Men involvement has become key. Male MPs signed a pledge to commit that they will do something about ending child marriages in their constituencies," Dura said.
Dura said despite milestone achievements on paper women are still suffering from the violence.
"While we have progressive constitution on woman and gender equality and while Zimbabwe is a signatory to the SADC Gender Protocol on Gender and Development and many regional and International commitments that the government of Zimbabwe has put in place including the establishment of the national gender implementation machinery which is the Gender Commission and the Ministry of Women Affairs which is decentralized, we continue to realize that women cannot assert or enjoy their right because of violence against them," Dura said.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is a global campaign dedicated to ending gender-based violence.
It seeks to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels regarding violence against women.
Source - Byo24News
