Gender Matrix Archives

How Economic Empowerment Project Has Liberated Zim Rural Women From GBV

December 4, 2020December 4, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE dawn of the lockdown period that was introduced following confirmation of positive COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe in March this year gave birth to a spike in Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases in the country. By Michael Gwarisa According to a report titled “Violence Against Women and Girls During the Covid-19 Crisis in Zimbabwe” that was gathered by five NGOs working with survivors of gender-based violence, including the Musasa Project, the Adult Rape Clinic and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, there was a sharp increase in domestic violence during the…

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Power Imbalances Continue To Drive Women Into Gender-Based Violence

November 28, 2020November 28, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

RESEARCH and reports show that about 94% of gender based violence cases reported between March to October 2020 were against women amidst indications that men still believe in gender norms and traditional harmful practices which usually lead into violation of women’s rights. By Paticia Mashiri There are mainly four forms of gender-based violence which include economic, sexual, physical and emotional abuse while poverty has been identified as a leading cause of GBV. Speaking at a GBV round table dialogue with women in the informal sector which was hosted by Women’s…

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Sexual Gender Based Violence Linked To High Unsafe Abortions in Zimbabwe

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

HIGH cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) have been linked to an increase in cases of unsafe and illegal abortions by young girls and women in Zimbabwe, a top government official has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the Health and Wellness Day that was organized by the Women Action Group (WAG) in Mabvuku, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development Provincial Development Officer Mr Ernest Chimbodza said Zimbabwe was losing lives of young women and girls to unsafe abortions every year. Ladies and gentlemen,…

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Women Cant Rape Men According to Zimbabwean Law

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

DO you all still remember those days a few years back when newspapers would be flooded with stories of women who would drunk unsuspecting men, have sex with them without their consent for the purposes of harvesting sperms? Almost every headline screamed “Women Rapists On The Lose.” But do you what the Zimbabwe law says about rape and the procedures one should take reporting a rape case? By Michael Gwarisa According to Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, it is impossible for a woman to rape a man and…

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More Zim Women Withdraw Rape and SGBV Cases from Police and Courts

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

IN a rather disturbing trend, numbers of women withdrawing rape and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases they would have filed with the police or courts have been increasing over the past few years. By Michael Gwarisa Even though the reasons behind the huge withdrawals are yet to be ascertained, it is largely believed that societal and family pressures could be the reason behind the huge spike in case being withdrawn by survivors. Presenting at a Media Sensitisation Workshop on reporting on SGBV in Zimbabwe that was organised by UNICEF,…

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Comprehensive Sexuality Education Could Help End SGBV In Schools- UNFPA

October 18, 2020October 18, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)says Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), could reduce cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SHBV) in schools since it is a scientifically proven methodology of delivering sexuality education to learners. By Michael Gwarisa Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Zimbabwean schools is perpetrated either by teaching and non-teaching staff and peers. An insidious form of gender-based violence is embedded in child labour practices in the school and the community and gender-based violence is perpetuated by a culture of silence informally maintained by victims, teachers,…

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United Nations Calls For More Support For The Girl Child In Zimbabwe

October 12, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zimbabwe has paid tribute to adolescent girls in the country as the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child under a global theme – “My voice, our equal future”. By Michael Gwarisa The 2020 theme calls us to reimagine a better future inspired by the ideas and innovations of adolescent girls. Girls in Zimbabwe, as in the world over, face myriad challenges, including gender-based discriminations that result in less opportunities across a range of sectors like education, training and employment, compared…

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Abuse and harassment driving girls off Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, global survey reveals

October 6, 2020 Healthtimes

Largest ever survey on online violence shows that one in five girls (19%) have left or significantly reduced use of a social media platform after being harassed, while another one in ten (12%) have changed the way they express themselves. HARARE: Girls and young women worldwide are demanding urgent action from social media companies after a landmark survey has revealed more than half (58%) have been harassed or abused online. HealthTimes Reporter Attacks are most common on Facebook, where 39% say they have suffered harassment, but occur on every platform…

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ZICHIRE’s Safe Spaces Program Rescues UMP & Mudzi Women Who Experienced GBV During Lockdown

October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

THE Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research (ZICHIRE) is implementing a program dubbed the “Safe Spaces” program in Mudzi and Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe (UMP) with the aim of empowering women who experienced Gender Based Violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 induced lockdown. By Michael Gwarisa The humanitarian project is also aimed at capacitating and building resilient communities so as to prevent abuse at grassroots level. In an interview with HealthTimes, ZICHIRE Programs Manager, Mr Walter Chikanya said empowering women economically was one sure way of reducing GBV. The program that we…

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Apply Gender Lens For All WASH Programmes To Reduce SGBV Says UNICEF

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 Michael Gwarisa

AS the world grapples to contain the COVID-19 health crisis, a silent pandemic in the form of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) continues to roam around untamed. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey of 2019, about one in every two women aged 15-49 in Zimbabwe had experienced emotional, physical and sexual abuse committed by the current or last husband/partner in their lifetime. By Michael Gwarisa To address the continued surge in GBV and SGBV cases, there is need to identify the loopholes and gaps that may be contributing…

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