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CCDZ statement on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence
Centre
for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
November 25, 2013
The Centre for
Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ), a grassroots non-profit
making organization carrying out human rights, citizen participation
and governance work in Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating
the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,
the International Human Rights Day and the ensuing 16 Days of Activism
against Gender Violence, commemorated every year globally between
25 November and 10 December to raise awareness and trigger action
on gross human rights violations.
To CCDZ, this
period marks time to reflect on the strides made by women in challenging
oppressive systems and the hurdles they still face in their struggle
for a just world for women. It is sad that in Zimbabwe despite the
fact that women constitute close to 52% of the population, they
still lack representation in decision-making bodies at all levels.
Their lack of control over key productive resources is also worrisome.
Women remain the minority in such sectors as mining, farming, manufacturing
and construction. Retrogressive attitudes and views of women as
second class citizens to be seen but not to be heard should be buried.
Despite the
gender equality provisions of the new Constitution,
such as 60 seats reserved for women in the lower house
of assembly and 50-50 representation in the senate, the participation
of women in democracy and governance remains very pathetic. Most
women who contested in the
July 31 harmonized elections did not make it in either council
or parliament due to negative attitudes of their male counterparts
who argued that ‘women already had their share in parliament
(60 seats) and senate (50%) and so there was no need for them to
contest under the First Past the Post System.’
With only 4
female ministers and a few others deputizing men, Zimbabwe cannot
boast of being progressive in the area of women empowerment. This
on its own is a sign of lack of political will and lack of confidence
in women by the powers that be. This wrong precedence, set at the
highest political level, is already replicated at the local level
where on average a fifth of the women have ‘token’ leadership
positions in Ward Development Committees (WADCOs),Village Development
Committees (VIDCOs), School Development Committees (SDCs),councils
and even in churches to window dress the gender balance needs. CCDZ
laments the absence of a safe political space for women to participate
freely in politics and development. The Gender Commission, a body
provided for by the new Constitution, to monitor and raise a voice
on such gender injustice issues as these has to date remained on
paper.
CCDZ is greatly
concerned about the attitude of some police officers, who, despite
the presence of the Domestic Violence Act, dismiss genuine domestic
violence cases brought by women as private matters to be privately
settled. Because of this attitude, serious human rights abuses committed
against women and young girls remain hidden and unreported. CCDZ
will not tire in its efforts to educate communities on their rights
and through human rights monitoring, to expose violations of the
rights of women. CCDZ appeals to the government to speedily ensure
the implementation of the laws, which protect and enhance women’s
rights as well as ensure that the Gender Commission is constituted
and functional. We strongly believe that development will not be
achieved without the meaningful participation of women and respect
for their rights and needs.
Visit the Centre
for Community Development fact
sheet
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