By Patricia Mashiri
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and Hivos have concluded the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a candlelight ceremony that brought together persons with disabilities and representatives from various organisations working with vulnerable groups.
Aligned with this year’s theme, “Unite to end digital violence against all women and girls,” the workshop aimed to highlight the challenges women with disabilities face online and explore ways of addressing and preventing digital abuse.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, WCoZ Programmes Manager Rotina Mafume-Musara said the organisations were standing in solidarity with women with disabilities, who are among those most affected by gender-based violence.
“Today we are coming together as a country and as a nation to recognise that women with disabilities suffer multiple forms of abuse. Some of these abuses are technologically facilitated,” she said.
“We are witnessing the rampant misuse of language directed at persons with disabilities, especially women, on online platforms. Many are now afraid to be active digitally because they fear what might happen to them as a result of their participation,” Mafume-Musara added.
She recommended a multi-sectoral approach to creating safe digital spaces for women with disabilities so they can fully participate and enjoy the benefits of online engagement, including e-commerce and social interaction.
Statistics show that women with disabilities are two to four times more likely than other women to experience violence.
A report produced by UN Women’s Act to End Violence against Women notes that online violence risks pushing women out of digital spaces, thereby undermining democracy and freedom of expression.
Tambudzai Madzimure, Hivos Women Empowerment Programmes Manager, said the organisation has adopted a GBV 365 approach to protecting women.
“We have just concluded the candlelight ceremony, which was an activity aligned with the 16 Days of Activism against GBV. While the campaign officially ended on December 10, we took the opportunity to continue with the activity because, in the work we do with women, GBV is not a 16-day issue but something they face on a day-to-day basis. That is why we are taking a GBV 365 approach,” Madzimure said.
She added that while some persons with disabilities find solace online, sharing their stories often exposes them to attacks that end up silencing them.
Suokhuoluhle Mhlanga, Women with Disabilities Chairperson, said the platform provided an opportunity for the disability community to openly discuss the challenges they face.
“We had survivors of violence sharing their stories of resilience. We also heard from parents of children with disabilities who spoke about the stigma and discrimination their children face, especially online,” she said.
