Tag: SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE

Shacking Off GBV: Zimbabwe’s Spotlight Initiative hosts Zumba Session to raise awareness on GBV

Michael Gwarisa

THE Spotlight Initiative in Zimbabwe on Saturday, May 13, 2023 hosted a #ShakeOffGBV Zumba Session to remind communities of the harm Gender Based Violence (GBV) poses in as far as blocking women and girls from realizing their full potential. By Michael Gwarisa According to the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, about one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, and about one in four women have experienced sexual violence, since the age of 15. With elections approaching, fears are that more women and girls could…

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Spotlight Initiative Delivers Safe Market, One Stop Centre To Address GBV

NewsRoom

Harare – the Government of Zimbabwe, the European Union, and the United Nations together with local authorities in the Epworth district launched a Safe Market and One Stop Centre as part of ongoing joint efforts to end violence against women and girls. By Fungai Masona The opening of the Safe Market Space and the One Stop Centre coincided with the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence that will take place under a localized theme “End Violence Against Women Now: No to child marriages!” Women Affairs, Community,…

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HealthTimes Scribe Scoops Top Spotlight Initiative Media Monitoring Award

Healthtimes

HEALTHTIMES Editor, Michael Gwarisa yesterday bagged yet another prestigious award in the Northern Chapter of the Annual Spotlight Initiative Media Monitoring Awards (SAMA) on  Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV), HP and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) reporting. By Staff Reporter The awards were hosted by Musasa Project through support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and sought to recognize journalists that went out of their way in reporting GBV issues as well as bringing all forms of violence and traditional harmful practices to the open. Gwarisa came out top…

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Media A key Stakeholder In Disseminating Spotlight Initiative Interventions

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it is committed to working with all stakeholders including the media industry in disseminating and communicating interventions under the Spotlight Initiative. By Michael Gwarisa The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. It was launched in September 2017 by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and the European Union (EU) High Representative and Vice President (HRVP). Speaking on behalf of the UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Esther Muia during a media training on Spotlight Media Guidelines…

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Shorten Referral Pathways For SGBV Survivors Says Musasa

Michael Gwarisa

REPORTING Rape or Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) from a spectator’s eye appears like a walk in the park. However, for survivors, it can be one lengthy and winding process. By Michael Gwarisa For survivors of SGBV failure to report within 72 hours has its own negative health implications such as Early Unintended Pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or HIV infection. However, many factors could contribute to delays in accessing emergency services for survivors. Religion, culture and society all have a bearing on the outcome of an SGBV case.…

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Time To Challenge Gender Bias and Inequalities

Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development has called on women rights advocate groups to push for active participation and involvement of more women in key decision-making positions to ensure inequalities associated with gender are addressed. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the Harare Spotlight Initiative consortium’s commemorations of the Women’s Day celebrations, Harare Metropolitan Provincial Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mr Ernest Chimboza said it was high time women claim their rightful position at the top table.…

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

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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