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Statement over Betty Makoni's arrest and closure of Girl Child Network shelters
Women's Coalition
September 28, 2007

The Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) is concerned at what we perceive to be the continued persecution and harassment of our Chairperson and the Founder and Director of the Girl Child Network (GCN), Betty Makoni. This perception comes against a number of arrest of Betty, the latest being in relation to alleged breaching of the Children's Act during a Mai Chisamba show to raise awareness on child abuse, particularly rape.

That the Mai Chisamba show was aired shows the level of recognition and commitment by GCN to the rights of the child. In turn, the WCoZ recognizes and upholds the need to protect all children from any action or conduct that harms them. We are however concerned that the massive good work of GCN around Zimbabwe is under threat from fractious allegations of one kind or another. We also feel compelled to believe that this persecution and harassment maybe due to powerful forces seeking to protect alleged perpetrators.

Girl Child Network is a registered NGO under the PVO Act. The mandate of GCN is to lead the holistic empowerment, leadership training and confidence building of the girl child to act as a voice for vulnerable girl children. GCN seeks to advocate increased access to justice, child friendly laws and policies as well as community education on child abuse. It addresses and advocates the eradication of harmful cultural practices that hinder the full physical, spiritual and emotional growth of the girl child. GCN has co-operated and networked with government structures and processes particularly the police, Victim Friendly Courts and Social Welfare Officers to rescue abused children, give assistance and offer shelter to those in need. These departments have in turn often referred children in need to the GCN shelters.

The WCoZ reiterates its support to all efforts to protect the rights and interests of children and women of Zimbabwe. Our membership countrywide is involved in numerous activities around the Beijing 12 Critical Areas of Concern, HIV/ AIDS and other emerging issues, the MDGs and other humanitarian concerns of women and children. The recognition of and enjoyment of human rights by women and children are our driving force. In Zimbabwe, gender based violence to which women and children constitute the highest number of survivors is at the top of our agenda, not only to reduce it but to eliminate it. It was to this end that WCoZ pushed vigorously for a Domestic Violence Act to protect such rights all over Zimbabwe.

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