UNESCO moves to tackle GBV

SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE

UNESCO has moved to tackle gender based Violence (GBV) and harmful practices within rural communities across the country.

UNESCO’s deputy gender focal point for southern Africa region, Fridah Manenji, said it was critical to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Addressing participants during two-day community radio training on national disability board awareness and raising engagement on GBV and harmful practices held last week in Mutare, Manenji said there was a need to take action to reduce such cases against women and girls with disabilities.

“The scope of the training is to fund and deliver evidence-based programmes that prevent and respond to violence and harmful practices against women and girls, including in other sectors. UNESCO is supporting the disabilities board to plan and implement programmes on sexual, gender based violence/harmful Practices,” Maninji said.

He added: “Such a partnership with the community media in Zimbabwe, has been key in ensuring that the community members in marginalized areas also freely voice their concerns, engage in dialogue with their local authorities as well as share their lived experiences.”

In December 2021, UNESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare supported the orientation of the NDB on the National Disability Policy.

During the orientation workshop, the Board identified key priorities from the Policy as well as their Strategic Plan.

Some of the identified priorities included extending awareness campaigns on ending GBV, and promoting SRHR of women and girls with disabilities through broadcast media as well as monitoring of the implementation of the National Disability Policy.

The chairperson of the National Disability Board, Mercy Maunganidze said the roping in of community radio stations in the training workshop held Thursday and Friday last week seeks to reach the grassroots where information flow is limited.

“We are currently working with local community radio stations in the country in spreading our message in local languages for easy comprehension and reduce gender based violence against women and girls with disabilities.

“At the moment we are working with Nyangani FM, Chimanimani FM, Ndau FM and Avuxeni of Chiredzi,” said Maunganidze.

Representatives from the respective community radio stations, interested civil society organisations and various line government department representatives attended the workshop.