Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe on Tuesday joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women amid calls for governments to shift focus to the digital forms of the evil practice.
In a statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which was being commemorated under the theme: ‘UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association expressed concern over the growing threat of digital violence that increasingly targets women and girls in online spaces.
“Violence against women and girls is not a distant problem. It is happening right now to millions of women and girls around the world, including right here in Zimbabwe. One in three women globally has experienced physical or sexual violence, but today we focus on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence. This includes harassment, online threats, cyberstalking, defamation, and the widespread use of non-consensual imagery. In Zimbabwe, several prominent women have faced digital violence for speaking out on political issues or standing up for their rights,” it said.
ZimRights said in commemoration of the day, countries should reflect on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, one of the most significant international agreements for the advancement of women’s rights.
“While progress has been made, much remains to be done to ensure women and girls are free from violence, both in the physical world and in the digital realm,” ZimRights said.
It added that it remains deeply committed to advancing women’s rights and tackling all forms of violence, including digital violence.
“Our work focuses on strengthening laws and policies, raising awareness, and providing support to survivors of online abuse. We call for stronger protections for women in both offline and digital spaces. We are dedicated to ensuring that digital literacy and digital safety are prioritized as key tools in the fight for gender equality,” ZimRights added.
As a signatory to international human rights instruments, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Zimbabwe has committed to upholding women’s rights and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
Regionally, Zimbabwe is bound by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Maputo Protocol, which call for the protection of women from all forms of violence, including digital violence.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has also adopted frameworks aimed at addressing gender-based violence.
ZimRights commended the government for enacting the Domestic Violence Act and the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act but said more needs to be done to ensure that these laws are effectively enforced, particularly in the digital realm
New Ziana
