|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Women's
statement on Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean
Women
May 30, 2008
We, the Zimbabwean
women and women worldwide, urgently call for stopping of violence
in Zimbabwe and protection of women and girls, in this post election
catastrophe. This is an emergency as the country gears up for a
presidential run-off on the 27th of June 2008.The violence persists
and is real. No election observers are yet in the country, despite
our calls, appeals, cries to Southern Africa Development Community,
(SADC), African Union (AU) and the United Nations. Zimbabwe is a
full signatory to CEDAW.
We are watching
a silent genocide of the poor and powerless, due to political induced
murders, criminal actions, and collapse of basic services resulting
in deaths due to lack of health care, food, shelter for the displaced,
especially after the March 29th, 2008 elections. Most of the affected
are women and children.
The post election
murders, burnings, lootings and intimidation have most affected
women and girls since its rural targeted and 80% of women live in
rural areas.
Over 10
000 people have fled their homes, are displaced and squatters with
relatives and with fear of going back home. Children displaced are
not in schools
Over 50 people
have been murdered in cold blood, and mostly from the opposition.
An estimated 7000 teachers have fled their schools as a number have
been beaten in the eyes of parents and pupils.
Doctors for
Human Rights report that over 2000 serious cases of physical torture
and beatings have passed through their hands and a lot of those
they treated have suffered serious fractures to an extent that most
are permanently handicapped.
The oldest victim
of the post election violence is an old woman with 12 grandchildren
all of them orphaned and whose son is alleged to have campaigned
for the opposition.
The youngest
female victim is a 15-year-old girl who was stripped naked togethr
with her pregnant mother forced to lie down and beaten on the breasts
and buttocks, just many women have been so battered. Several girls
and women are feared raped. The youngest child seriously assaulted
is only 3 years. More than 3,000 Zimbabweans die every weak due
to AIDS, and their life expectancy is 34 years for women. Unemployment
is 80% and inflation is 165 000 % and the highest in the world.
200 000
women made homeless and jobless by the government 2005 Operation
Murambatsvina. Women's church gatherings are disrupted,
women beaten up and abused while at prayer. Over
3 million Zimbabweans are in South Africa where they are facing
xenophobic attacks
This situation
is an extra-ordinary emergency for women and girls. Every person
and institution must do everything in their power to stop the violence,
restore rule of law, and allow Zimbabweans to exercise their right
to vote and live in peace.
We, as Zimbabwean
women and women worldwide:
Re-iterate
the long-standing position of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
that the failure by government and law enforcement, such as police
and army to respect the rights of all citizens is the greatest threat
to peace, democracy and development in Zimbabwe.
Really
concerned by a real danger of civil strife catalyzed by
the growing humanitarian crisis. We are witnessing increasing levels
of tension and political polarization among the population, which
turned out to vote on March 29. The media reports on the party political
position adopted by the law enforcement, which should ordinarily
maintain neutrality. The recent purchase of military weapons adds
to this fear.
Call
for immediate cessation of organized and targeted intimidation against
the citizens, particularly the use of women and girls as weapons
of 'war', evidenced by the brutal battering of women's
buttocks, rape and sexual abuse.
Demand
the immediate disbanding of the militias, comprised of youths, security
agents and one terror group code named Chipangano, which have caused
terror and havoc in the rural and urban areas exacerbating the humanitarian
situation by creating internal refugees. We demand the disbanding
of torture bases where gross abuses of women are taking place including
forced labor (cooking and cleaning) and sexual abuse.
Request
the Leadership of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations
to effectively engage with the ZANU PF government to stop using
violence against its people and take tangible actions if the violence
continues.
Request
especially the Human Rights Council to:
- Establish
programme of engagement with Zimbabwe for protection of human
rights especially for women, girls and children. The UN must deploy
human rights monitors during the run-up to the Presidential Elections.
- Mandate
and support UN Special Rapportuer on Vioence Against Women must
do a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe and support the efforts
of community, grassroots and other organisations living in a culture
of fear, survivors of violence and abuse.
- Mandate
and support UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders must
put in place ways of ensuring safety and protection for women
human rights advocates and activists, who find themselves in fear
of life and who ability to engage publicly is compromised.
- Engage with
Zimbabwe government and authorities and stop the violence, and
demand the state to protect ordinary people's lives.
- Encourage
and support for humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe, especially
in support of food, health and education for rural communities
and mostly the displaced.
Organizations
and individuals are encouraged to sign on this statement, and submit
or worldoffice@worldywca.org;
or athenainitiative@gmail.com
SIGNED
*Presented
to Human Rights Council, June 2008 Session Geneva, Switzerland
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
