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By Joyce Mukucha
A non-partisan national network of women’s rights organisations and activists striving for the rights of women and girls, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) said the induced national lockdowns due to the global Covid-19 pandemic contribute hugely to the fuelling of gender-based violence (GBV).
The organisation communicated this in their message to commemorate 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
This year’s campaign is running under the theme,“Orange the world: End Violence against women now!”
“The situation has since worsened due to COVID-19 as socio-economic effects of the pandemic, coupled with living in the same space for a continued period of time increasing the number of GBV cases.
“The mandatory lockdowns have seen many women and girls being trapped with their abusers and not knowing where to go or how to get help during the lockdown. Research evidence has shown that in Zimbabwe, 1 in 3 women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15,” said WCoZ.
WCoZ stressed that as a network which focuses on women’s rights, it will remain committed to ensuring the provision and accessibility of GBV services and making sure that critical information on GBV and Covid-19 is readily available to eradicate the vice.
“With COVID-19 still a reality and the threats of GBV on the lives of women and girls still ravaging, WCoZ continues to call for Government to prioritize the continuity of GBV services with GBV service providers continuously being recognised as essential workers, integration of GBV services as well as information vital in GBV and COVID-19 response to end violence against women.”
However, the organisation commended the efforts being made by different stakeholders of the global community of continuing to make noise about ending GBV against women and girls.
Since its outbreak, WCoZ highlighted, the COVID-19 pandemic has been directing much-needed attention to GBV worldwide and is particularly shining a light on the hidden epidemic of intimate partner violence.
“In fact, in recent months, there has been a plethora of high-profile statements calling for measures to address the GBV ‘shadow pandemic’.”
The 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence is an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.