Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Government remains fully committed to ensuring that survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) receive the necessary response services they deserve, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, made these remarks during the launch of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in the Bulawayo province.
This event coincided with the commissioning of the Mpilo One Stop Centre for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence. The Mpilo Centre marks the 18th facility established by the government, following similar initiatives in Rusape, Gweru, Gwanda, Bindura, Chinhoyi, Epworth, and Masvingo.
In total, it is the 18th One Stop Centre, including those set up by various stakeholders across Zimbabwe. November 25 is commemorated globally as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), concluding on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day.
The provincial commemorations were held under the theme “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” Mutsvangwa emphasized the need for strong collaboration to combat this scourge, highlighting the importance of economic empowerment initiatives and scaling up awareness and educational campaigns.
“There is also a need for male engagement programs to challenge negative social, cultural, and religious norms that fuel gender-based violence. “Through collective effort and sustained commitment, we can achieve the vision of equality and justice where every individual lives free from GBV, as championed by the Beijing Declaration three decades ago,”Mutsvangwa said.
She described the establishment of the One Stop Centre as a remarkable achievement by the government and its partners in facilitating comprehensive GBV response services for survivors. “Gender-Based Violence is one of the challenges that the country is currently grappling with. It constitutes a serious violation of fundamental human rights and poses a major obstacle to the social and economic development of communities.
“It further has severe negative consequences on the health and social well-being of individual survivors,” she said.
Over the years, Mutsvangwa noted, Zimbabwe has witnessed a significant increase in the levels of GBV. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019, 49.4% of women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence at some point in their lives.
“It is profoundly disheartening to recognize that countless individuals continue to suffer in silence, primarily due to the fear of victimization and the potential for secondary abuse. “The stigma surrounding GBV often discourages victims from reaching out for support, leaving them isolated and vulnerable.
“This silence can perpetuate cycles of violence, as victims may feel trapped in their circumstances without a safe avenue for expression or assistance,” she said.
Mutsvangwa pointed out that the structure of local service institutions complicates matters, as many facilities are not only physically distant from the communities they serve, but also lack survivor-friendly service providers who can create a welcoming and supportive environment.
“In many cases, these facilities are not only physically distant from the communities they serve but also lack survivor-friendly service providers who can create a welcoming and supportive environment.
“When victims seek help, they may encounter barriers that discourage them from reporting their experiences. These challenges may include inadequate training for staff, a lack of empathy in interactions, and logistical issues that make accessing services daunting,” she explained.
Mutsvangwa stated that the 2024 theme calls on all Member States to take positive steps toward realizing the aspirations of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, urging a critical reflection on the efforts made to eliminate violence against women and girls since the framework’s inception.
“This reflection prompts us to examine our efforts and reaffirm our commitment to responding to the needs of survivors of Gender-Based Violence, including ensuring that our support systems are accessible and sensitive to their needs,” she said.
She highlighted that the One Stop Centre model is one of the best practices globally, implemented by Zimbabwe to address the needs of GBV survivors.
“The One Stop Centres ensure access to holistic services—health, psycho-social support, legal, and police services—by survivors under one roof at no cost, while providing a confidential and friendly environment that empowers victims to break their silence and report gender-based violence cases.
“Commissioning this One Stop Centre is therefore meant to amplify the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign while showcasing some of the progressive work that the country is doing in addressing GBV in line with the call to action by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,” she said.
New Ziana
