One-stop centres for violence victims are overwhelmed

Choice Damiso, the UNFPA programme specialist for gender, told The Zimbabwean that the centres in Harare, Gweru and Rusape provide surviving victims of GBV with temporary shelter and other forms of violence management. Victims stay at the centres for periods varying from one day to a month, depending on their situations.

“The high prevalence of GBV in this country remains a serious concern as reflected by the huge turnout of survivors of violence at these centres. Documented statistics show that 80% of murders committed in 2009 claimed the lives of women,” said Damiso, noting that gender violence, mainly perpetrated by men against women, was widespread with the majority of cases committed in the home.

“Zimbabweans in general believe that violence is a way to resolve disputes. In fact, 40% of men and 30% of women believe that men are entitled to beat women for one reason or another,” she said.

Churches, schools, the media and prevailing cultural beliefs are also cited as perpetrators of the stereotypical belief that women are at the mercy of men.

Damiso hopes that future surveys will indicate a decrease in GBV as more people adopt modern ways of resolving conflicts. She believes the empowerment of women, which reduces their dependence on men, will help minimise GBV within communities. Cases of GBV by women against men are still rare.

Revai Makanje Aalbaek, the deputy country representative and officer in charge of UN Women, said young women were more exposed to rape because they had weaker social and economic conditions than men.

Besides providing shelter, one-stop centres also offer special services such as drugs to prevent HIV infection, emergency contraceptives and referrals to legal abortion facilities. Survivors of GBV also receive various forms of health care, counselling, legal aid and police services. Legal aid helps victims access protection orders, divorces, maintenance for and/or custody of their children. The centres do everything possible to ensure victims are protected from future harm and that their dignity is maintained.

According to the 2013 Zimbabwe UN Development Assistance Framework Annual Report, 16,000 child and 700 adult victims of GBV accessed free integrated health, psychosocial and legal services.