The Government remains committed to ending gender-based violence (GBV) in the country and has since come up with measures to address them.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa emphasised the crucial role of empowering women and girls in reducing the likelihood of gender-based violence (GBV) during the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV Campaign.
“To make sure communities grow together, we start from families, from families, we have to make sure that we bring up our children in a gender-based violence-free home,” Mrs Mutsvangwa said.
Minister Mutsvangwa has emphasised the crucial role of female engagement in achieving gender equality and eradicating gender-based violence.
“Women empowerment is a key priority, aligning with the ministry’s policy priorities for 2025, which include promoting gender equality,” she said
Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has issued a strong warning to perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV), stating that the government will not tolerate such behaviour regardless of the perpetrator’s gender.
“And when we talk of gender-based violence it doesn’t matter who is perpetrating gender-based violence
“We are not going to deal with women who perpetrate sexual abuse, we will deal with all gender-based violence perpetrators,” she added.
Minister Monica Mutsvangwa cited the importance of empowering women by highlighting their roles in society, stating:
“The women we are empowering are not just any women, they are our mothers, our wives, and our sisters,” she said
She highlighted that the ultimate goal is to ensure equal access to education, training, healthcare, and economic opportunities for all girls and women ¹.
Ambassador of European Union Mr H.E Jobst von Kirchmann has applauses for the collective efforts to combat gender-based violence, emphasizing that:
“It’s heartening to see our unity in this fight. Ending GBV is a responsibility that requires collective action, not just individual efforts, and certainly not just women’s efforts alone.
Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann emphasises the importance of creating a world where women and girls can live without fear of violence or discrimination, and where men and boys are active advocates for gender equality and women’s empowerments
“Let’s start treating women and girls with dignity and respect, by listening to their voices, valuing their contributions, and standing up against violence wherever we see it,” he said.
Canada Ambassador Mr Adler Aristide has applauded everyone who participated in a HeForShe solidarity march against GBV, stating that this movement has had a global reach and has engaged more than 2 million men across the world to changing gender equality.
“A global conversation was ignited, sparking crucial discussions in homes, communities, and workplaces worldwide, highlighting the actions needed to create a more equitable world for women and girls,” Mr Aristide said.
“Conversations around closing the gap and combating gender-based violence are crucial for promoting gender equality”, he added
