Philemon Jambaya
Gender-based violence is one of the most persistent violations of human rights across the globe.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about one third of women worldwide have experienced violence.
Intimate partner violence increases the risk of HIV, in some regions by up to 1.5 times.
Among marginalised populations, a high prevalence of violence is linked with higher rates of HIV infection, in particular among transgender women.
A local tabloid reported that 22 women are raped every day, one woman abused every 75 minutes and 646 women are abused every month.
The figures are so alarming, a clear indication that the world has been turned to be an unsafe place for women.
As the world is celebrating 16 days of activism against GBV, we should sit down and reflect on what we are doing to make this world a safer space for the girl child and women in particular.
Recently, media reports are awash with our girl child being impregnated at a very tender age.
16 days against gender-based violence is not enough, we should fight gender-based violence the whole year.
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In Zimbabwe, several women are victims of the GBV, with some sustaining injuries and disability.
Others now face mental health challenges and some are now living with chronic diseases such high blood pressure as a result of the violence, educating communities about the Termination of Pregnancy Act as most of the people do not know about it.
According to the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977, it is illegal to abort unless it has been sanctioned by government authorities, among them the courts, which have to confirm that conception was unlawful.
This might be in the case of sexual violence, incest or other health circumstances that make it impossible for one to give birth.
Definitely, there is need to push and advocate for certain laws in Zimbabwe to protect the girl child.
Zim Now managed to speak to some GBV victims, who opened up saying that some of them are now sex workers because of the situation.
“My husband used to beat me nearly every day, denying me food and forcing me to be intimate with him without my consent.
“I decided to run away from him but life has not been rosy as I am failing to feed myself and my little kid, I have since decided to engage in prostitution to earn a living,” one of the sex workers, who refused to be named, told this publication.
She is not the only woman who has been pushed onto the streets by these circumstances.
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