Plight of the girl child

By Sharon Chimenya

ABUSE of young women and girls during industrial attachments and after graduation remains prevalent and activists against the menace have vowed to address this and other sexual harassment cases in workplaces.

The demand for photographs to accompany curriculum vitae, which has ignited debates in some circles has been identified as one of the contributing factors to the vulnerability of the girl child during their quest for employment.

In an interview Herbert Chikosi, the Masvingo Provincial Education and Marketing Officer of the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), said they were committed to addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.

He said the girl child was particularly vulnerable to sexual gender-based violence, when pursuing opportunities for advancement. The girl child is much more vulnerable in cases of sexual gender based violence as they seek opportunity breakthroughs.

“We have been reaching out to rural communities, educating them about domestic violence and intimate partner violence. However, in 2024, our focus will shift to workplaces. We aim to address the issues of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly the vulnerability of our girl child. The performance of the economy, the search for opportunities, and the need for internships are contributing factors to the abuse they face,” he said.

“Regrettably, even well-established organisations now require a photo from those seeking internships. What does a photo contribute to someone looking for an internship? Internships should be a platform for incubating young people to ensure they are marketable in their communities.”

It was not appropriate, he said, to include pictures on a curriculum vitae, as it could potentially lead to discrimination and open the door to possible sexual harassment tendencies. It was best to focus on showcasing qualifications, skills, and experience in a professional manner.

There was rampant abuse of young girls when they go for attachment, presenting a serious setback in women empowerment efforts.

Chikosi noted some girls exposed themselves to abuse by expecting to progress without diligently applying themselves to the duties assigned to them.

“As ZNFPC we are a friendly organisation mandated to co-ordinate sexual reproductive health to students within tertiary institutions being our focus in terms of that. We want to equip them on how to report issues of rape, how to report issues of abuse in workplaces.

“We need to have a new paradigm shift in terms of the young person we are moulding in the society, a young person who is responsible, sensitive and hard worker.”