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Women's Coalition speech on 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women
Jestina Mukoko, Zimbabwe Peace Project
December 02, 2008

Violence against women is a major human rights concern. Violence against women in Zimbabwe is a social problem that warrants immediate coordinated response from multiple sectors. The year 2008 has seen the violation of women's economic, social, civil and political rights.

Violence against women feeds on discrimination and discrimination of any kind, be it racial, political or social status. The political violence we witnessed in Zimbabwe, worked to restrict women's choices, increased their vulnerability to violence and made it harder for women and girls to obtain justice.

The fact that Zimbabwe is signatory and has acceded to international protocols such as CEDAW, Universal Declaration of Rights and others has not been reflected in Zimbabwe's the respect of women's rights. Instead, the year 2008 saw an upsurge of violence against women in unprecedented levels. Violence against women in the year 2008 took faces many forms to include:

• Rape
• Sexual harassment
• Intimidation
• Murder
• Torture
• Severe ill treatment as houses and property were burnt and their livelihoods were destroyed
• Some women even witnessed their babies being killed in their own eyes

In the months that have passed to date, Zimbabwe Peace Project recorded that:

Over 20,143 people were victims of violence, more than 41 women and girls were raped and this could be an understatement as many cases went unreported. Avery sad case stands out of a Buhera women who was raped by 18 men and only five wore condoms. More than 202 people were murdered among them women. 917 were victims of malicious damage to property as their houses and property was destroyed. The year 2009 will be very sad as some women and girls will bear the labour pains of children from rape and whose fathers they may not even know as a result of violence.

It is necessary to stop violence against women and the time to act is now. There are a number of actions, that must be taken to stop violence against women in Zimbabwe and these include:

• Women need to be empowered to report cases of violence. Many cases go unreported for fear of ostracisation.
• Authorities need to be responsive to women who report violence as many have reported and it seemed that nothing was done to achieve justice.
• The media has to be sensitised on violence against women and their reporting needs to show empathy.
• There is need to strengthen advocacy efforts to help policy makers understand the gravity of violence against women.
• A comprehensive data base must be created on violence against women and girls including published and unpublished data on domestic violence, rape, murder, sexual assault and child abuse.
• Training of trainers must be conducted to make primary health care providers and authorities more sensitive to the needs of women.
• Women need to be involved in conflict resolution and sustainable peace building as they are more vulnerable in conflict situations.

While this is not a comprehensive list, it will allow us explore other approaches that can be adopted to stop violence against women. Violence against women is a human rights violation that cannot be justified by any political, religious and cultural claim.

Together we can make a difference and stop violence against women.

Thank you.

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