The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), last week partnered with the Gender Commission of Zimbabwe (GCZ) and the Ministry of Women Affairs in Gokwe to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This collaboration aims to raise awareness and advocate for gender equality while calling for increased resource allocation to combat gender-based violence in Zimbabwe
Speaking at the event, CNRG Head of Programs Tracy Mutowekuziva emphasized the need for resource allocation to promote gender equality. She said the convening of the commemoration was in solidarity with survivors and an advocacy initiative for an end to violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.
Mutowekuziva said women in rural parts of Zimbabwe including Gokwe exposed to this insidious scourge of GBV also face the brunt of climate change which was exacerbating social and livelihood challenges.
“Climate change has negatively affected women in Gokwe that are reliant on agriculture and now they are facing a struggle as climate change has negatively impacted their yields.
“We convened this meeting to reinforce the government’s stance on abuse and violence on women, but we are also calling for increased efforts on adaption and mitigation against climate change because women bear the greater burden as primary caregivers.
“As CNRG we are also calling for deliberate efforts in policy formulations or gender-sensitive budgets and climate change responsive budgets that consider women in rural areas will be further marginalized by climate change.”
The 16 days movement is a global campaign running from November 25 to December 10, and serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need to address the pervasive issue of gender-based violence, particularly in the context of natural resource governance.
This year, we embrace the 2024 theme: “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to End Violence Against Women.”
Josephine Dera, a youth from Gokwe shared some of the challenges that they are facing which indicate a growing social problem, public health issue, and a violation of human rights that demands immediate attention and action.
“Climate change is affecting us as youth and particularly as girls we are expected to fetch water which is now scarce, and we spend time walking long distances to get it. Some of us are exposed to cases of sexual abuse.
“Our community is also facing social and livelihood challenges which have led many young girls into selling their bodies, most of them are school dropouts because our parents are facing income challenges and are unable to send us to school,” she said.
CNRG work has facilitated community dialogues, provided training on rights and advocacy, and collaborated with local stakeholders to promote gender-responsive policies in the extractives sector.
CNRG works through its Gender and Extractives desk to promote gender-responsive resource governance, working closely with communities in resource-rich areas to improve safety for women and girls in communities affected by extractive activities.
“Our efforts aim to empower women, ensuring their participation in decision-making processes and enhancing their capacity to advocate for their rights and safety in mining communities.
“At CNRG, we have been actively addressing gender issues and disparities in Zimbabwe’s mining sector through our Gender and Extractives Desk. This initiative has allowed us to listen to the voices of women affected by mining activities and to identify the unique challenges they face, including violence and discrimination.”
The Gender Commission, a constitutional body in Zimbabwe, is tasked with overseeing and ensuring gender equality compliance with the Constitution. The Commission’s mission is to protect and promote gender equality by 2030 and receive and investigate complaints of gender inequality.