CivActs has hosted community listening sessions in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Goromonzi and Harare (Mbare and Glenview) through partners including NAYO, VISET and Amandla Trust. During the sessions community members voiced concern about Zimbabwe’s silent epidemic, Gender Based Violence.
Reported incidences of GBV have increased since the beginning of the government mandated restrictions on movement. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) reports that while families are increasingly unable to sustain themselves, and face economic hardship and stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, women are particularly vulnerable and increasingly face Gender-Based violence.
According to the UN-OCHA Service providers report, there has been an increase in the number of GBV cases against adolescent girls, as well as exposure to increased negative coping mechanisms, and consequences, such as child marriage. Teenage pregnancy is a major consequence of GBV against adolescent girls. Others note that restrictions on movement have limited access to public services and basic commodities including contraception and sanitary ware. Community members report difficulty accessing health services, such as clinics and hospitals for rape survivors.
Read more and hear from communities here (1MB PDF)
Source: Accountability Lab Zimbabwe
