Responding to Gender, HIV and VAW in Murewa District, Zimbabwe

8/14/2019 Responding to Gender, HIV and VAW in Murewa District, Zimbabwe

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Presentation SummaryPresentation Summary

Background on Zimbabwe, Situation ofBackground on Zimbabwe, Situation ofWomenWomen

RMT Programme on Gender, HIV andRMT Programme on Gender, HIV andViolence Against WomenViolence Against Women

Engagement with Local GovernmentEngagement with Local Government Key local government structuresKey local government structures

Stakeholder and partnershipsStakeholder and partnerships

Lessons LearntLessons LearntChallengesChallenges RecommendationsRecommendations


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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUNDON ZIMBABWEON ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe population in 12 million with more than 50% womenZimbabwe population in 12 million with more than 50% women

Murewa District populationMurewa District population 162 167 people, estimated at 84 130162 167 people, estimated at 84 130women and 78 037 menwomen and 78 037 men

Zimbabwe has been going through a political, humanitarian,Zimbabwe has been going through a political, humanitarian,economic and social crisiseconomic and social crisis

Negative impact on women and poor communities, including onNegative impact on women and poor communities, including onpoverty, health, HIV and AIDSpoverty, health, HIV and AIDS

Passed the Domestic Violence ActPassed the Domestic Violence Act

Zimbabwe adopted a National AIDS Programme and Plan of ActionZimbabwe adopted a National AIDS Programme and Plan of Action

Zimbabwe has ratified the CEDAW and Committed to BeijingZimbabwe has ratified the CEDAW and Committed to BeijingPlatform for Action on Gender,Platform for Action on Gender,

Zimbabwe is 2Zimbabwe is 2ndnd country to sign SADC Protocol on Gender andcountry to sign SADC Protocol on Gender andDevelopmentDevelopment


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RMTSRMTS LOCAL TO LOCALLOCAL TO LOCAL DIALOGUEDIALOGUE

APPROACHAPPROACH

RMT was founded in 2007 in honour of the late MbuyaRMT was founded in 2007 in honour of the late MbuyaRozaria Dizha, a local community leaderRozaria Dizha, a local community leader

Key purpose of empower women and young people inKey purpose of empower women and young people incommunitiescommunities

Key programmes include:Key programmes include: HIV and AIDS Prevention, Care and SupportHIV and AIDS Prevention, Care and Support

Prevention of Violence Against WomenPrevention of Violence Against Women

Adopted the Local to Local Dialogue approachAdopted the Local to Local Dialogue approachsince inception, supported by UN-Habitat:since inception, supported by UN-Habitat:


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Continued..Continued..

Key local to local engagement has includedKey local to local engagement has included

Murewa district consultations on HIV and VAW with localMurewa district consultations on HIV and VAW with localauthorities and traditional leadersauthorities and traditional leaders

Participation in local government structures and committeesParticipation in local government structures and committees

Collaboration with other stakeholders and NGOs at local,Collaboration with other stakeholders and NGOs at local,regional and international levelregional and international level

Involvement of stakeholder including from local authorities asInvolvement of stakeholder including from local authorities asresource personsresource persons

Documentation and communicationDocumentation and communication


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CONSULTATIVE STRUCTURES AND PARTNERSCONSULTATIVE STRUCTURES AND PARTNERS

RMT brings perspectives of women and gender issues in localRMT brings perspectives of women and gender issues in local

structures in Murewa through participation in:structures in Murewa through participation in: Monthly Murewa District Stakeholder Meetings chaired byMonthly Murewa District Stakeholder Meetings chaired by

the Chairperson of Council and District Administratorthe Chairperson of Council and District Administrator

District AIDS Coordinating Committee MeetingsDistrict AIDS Coordinating Committee Meetings

Social Services CommitteeSocial Services Committee

RMT is a member of the following organisations that haveRMT is a member of the following organisations that havesupported the awareness on gender issues especially onsupported the awareness on gender issues especially on

violence against women and HIV:violence against women and HIV:

Womens Coalition of ZimbabweWomens Coalition of Zimbabwe

Gender Based Violence Prevention Network for East andGender Based Violence Prevention Network for East andSouthern AfricaSouthern Africa

Huairou CommissionHuairou Commission

SAFAIDSSAFAIDS

Partnered with UN-Habitat, UNIFEMPartnered with UN-Habitat, UNIFEM


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RMT Programmes Focus in MurewaRMT Programmes Focus in Murewa

DistrictDistrict Awareness raising on Violence Against Women in the context of HIVAwareness raising on Violence Against Women in the context of HIV

and AIDS through engagement with local government authorities.and AIDS through engagement with local government authorities.

Integrating gender perspective in dialogue with local authorities andIntegrating gender perspective in dialogue with local authorities andtheir governance system as a factor for success and sustainability.their governance system as a factor for success and sustainability.

Rights and leadership for women especially those living with HIV andRights and leadership for women especially those living with HIV andAIDSAIDS

Integrating a gender perspectives in the face of HIV and AIDS byIntegrating a gender perspectives in the face of HIV and AIDS byactively involving the local authorities.actively involving the local authorities.

Contributing to formulating and strengthening local policies thatContributing to formulating and strengthening local policies thatpromote equal participation of women in decision makingpromote equal participation of women in decision making


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STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIONSSTAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIONS

Rozaria Memorial Trust holds annual district level stakeholderRozaria Memorial Trust holds annual district level stakeholderconsultations that include local authorities, traditional leaders andconsultations that include local authorities, traditional leaders and

faith based organisation and other NGOsfaith based organisation and other NGOs 2007 Consultation focused on role of tradition and culture in responding to2007 Consultation focused on role of tradition and culture in responding to

HIV and SGBV, held in partnership with SAFAIDSHIV and SGBV, held in partnership with SAFAIDS

2008 Consultation focused on access to justice for responding to gender2008 Consultation focused on access to justice for responding to genderbased violencebased violence

2009 consultation focused on community approaches to prevention of2009 consultation focused on community approaches to prevention of

gender based violence and HIVgender based violence and HIV

Key insightsKey insights Building of strong partnership with various government departments andBuilding of strong partnership with various government departments and

other civil society organizations in its programmes on HIV and Gender Basedother civil society organizations in its programmes on HIV and Gender BasedViolence.Violence.

Local authorities and government departments at district level have controlLocal authorities and government departments at district level have control

and influence especially on authoritative, moral and political fronts within theand influence especially on authoritative, moral and political fronts within thecommunity.community.

Respect and quality communication with local government systems isRespect and quality communication with local government systems isrequired to obtain cooperation.required to obtain cooperation.


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Lessons learnt in prevention ofLessons learnt in prevention of

violence against womenviolence against women The Domestic Violence Act passed in 2007 is not fully known andThe Domestic Violence Act passed in 2007 is not fully known and

understood in Murewa district, including by district officials andunderstood in Murewa district, including by district officials andcommunity memberscommunity members

The Victim Friendly Police Unit and Courts established at MurewaThe Victim Friendly Police Unit and Courts established at Murewaare poorly funded and supportedare poorly funded and supported

People in the community know very little about their rights andPeople in the community know very little about their rights andhow to use the lawhow to use the law

The traditional leadership has been very responsive in districtThe traditional leadership has been very responsive in districtdialogues and promoting positive behaviour and encouragingdialogues and promoting positive behaviour and encouragingpositive use of culturespositive use of cultures

Strong partnerships developed with other organisations such asStrong partnerships developed with other organisations such as

ZWAAPV and ZICHIREZWAAPV and ZICHIRE


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KEY LESSONSKEY LESSONS

Important to have a gender district action plan, budget and staff on the issueImportant to have a gender district action plan, budget and staff on the issue

Its positive that Murewa District has plan, coordinating committee and staffIts positive that Murewa District has plan, coordinating committee and stafffor HIV & AIDSfor HIV & AIDS

Its challenging and problematic that there is no single structure coordinatingIts challenging and problematic that there is no single structure coordinatingresponse to violence against women (situation could change with Domesticresponse to violence against women (situation could change with DomesticViolence Council established in 2009)Violence Council established in 2009)

Stakeholder consultations provides platforms for information sharing with otherStakeholder consultations provides platforms for information sharing with otherstakeholders, and greater synergy and collaboration opportunitiesstakeholders, and greater synergy and collaboration opportunities

Presence of official person from local government/government district officialPresence of official person from local government/government district officialsupports the knowledge and gives some commitment for government interestsupports the knowledge and gives some commitment for government interest

Local government monthly meetings are opportunity for monitoring andLocal government monthly meetings are opportunity for monitoring andevaluation of key issues relating to women and gender from perspective ofevaluation of key issues relating to women and gender from perspective ofdifferent actorsdifferent actors

Provided opportunity for lobbying, advocacy and influencing policy, ie raisedProvided opportunity for lobbying, advocacy and influencing policy, ie raised

issue of medical fees payment for HIV treatmentissue of medical fees payment for HIV treatment


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CHALLENGESCHALLENGESIn working with the local governance systems in Murewa District, ZimbabweIn working with the local governance systems in Murewa District, Zimbabwe

they are a multi-faced challenges which civil society organizations encounter.they are a multi-faced challenges which civil society organizations encounter.

There isThere is NO GENDER ACTION PLANNO GENDER ACTION PLAN and clear programmes and activities on gender issues in Murewaand clear programmes and activities on gender issues in Murewa

local governance system.local governance system.

Also, local government officialsAlso, local government officials lack the expertiselack the expertise in handling or dealing with women issues. They havein handling or dealing with women issues. They havelimited capacity and competence in gender planning.limited capacity and competence in gender planning.

With the political crisis in Zimbabwe, most local government institutions at local level have become tooWith the political crisis in Zimbabwe, most local government institutions at local level have become toopoliticised, and this creates sensitivity in work of NGOs.politicised, and this creates sensitivity in work of NGOs.

The planning process of local government involves a lot of protocol and bureaucracy. Valuable time andThe planning process of local government involves a lot of protocol and bureaucracy. Valuable time andresources are lost in the process.resources are lost in the process.

Effective local to local dialogue and interaction is hampered by the non-availability of reliable transportEffective local to local dialogue and interaction is hampered by the non-availability of reliable transportservices, and women from rural communities are unable to travel for meetings.services, and women from rural communities are unable to travel for meetings.

Women are a key resource in communities and at times their issues are used by politicians to advanceWomen are a key resource in communities and at times their issues are used by politicians to advancetheir own interests instead of promoting the empowerment and development of rural/community women.their own interests instead of promoting the empowerment and development of rural/community women.


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Challenges contChallenges cont

There is lack of proper coordination within the local governance and civil societyThere is lack of proper coordination within the local governance and civil society

organizations. This has created a lot of duplication in areas of women and HIV.organizations. This has created a lot of duplication in areas of women and HIV.

Another constraint emanates from the lack of interest by some men within the localAnother constraint emanates from the lack of interest by some men within the localgovernment to mainstream gender issues in the aspects of their work.government to mainstream gender issues in the aspects of their work.

The local budget structures of the local authorities hardly takes into considerationThe local budget structures of the local authorities hardly takes into considerationwomens issues.womens issues.

Limited financial resources: the local government as the national budget allocationsLimited financial resources: the local government as the national budget allocationson gender mainstreaming is almost zero. The district no budgetary support from UNon gender mainstreaming is almost zero. The district no budgetary support from UN

systems and other bilateral and multilateral agencies for gender orientedsystems and other bilateral and multilateral agencies for gender oriented

development programmes.development programmes.

NGOs like Rozaria Memorial Trust with women and gender programme have smallNGOs like Rozaria Memorial Trust with women and gender programme have smallfunds and operate with limited capacity (skills, staff, transport)funds and operate with limited capacity (skills, staff, transport)


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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSCONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Bringing the local to local dialogue between civil organizations and the localBringing the local to local dialogue between civil organizations and the localgovernment is important in women empowerment programmes.government is important in women empowerment programmes.

UN-Habitat and partners should support in-country activities in selected localUN-Habitat and partners should support in-country activities in selected localauthorities for the implementation of the local to local dialogues.authorities for the implementation of the local to local dialogues.

Womens effective participation is crucial in countries in crisis and post crisisWomens effective participation is crucial in countries in crisis and post crisiswhere the social and economic structures are broken.where the social and economic structures are broken.

Continued training and capacity building for local gender planning, budgetingContinued training and capacity building for local gender planning, budgetingand monitoring and evaluation is essentials.and monitoring and evaluation is essentials.

Local organisations must be supported for documentation and qualityLocal organisations must be supported for documentation and qualitycommunications on development of issues, iecommunications on development of issues, ie Rozaria Memorial TrustsRozaria Memorial TrustsCommunity Voices published twice a month.Community Voices published twice a month.

Women in communities, especially young women should be supported in theirWomen in communities, especially young women should be supported in theirleadership for comprehensive response to HIV and violence against womenleadership for comprehensive response to HIV and violence against women


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CONTACT DETAILSCONTACT DETAILS

ROZARIA MEMORIAL TRUSTROZARIA MEMORIAL TRUST

P.O BOX 114,P.O BOX 114,

Murewa, ZimbabweMurewa, Zimbabwe

Tel: 263-278 22835Tel: 263-278 22835

Cell:+26311 730213Cell:+26311 730213

+263914107800+263914107800Email:Email: [email protected]@rozaratrust.org

[email protected]@africaonline.co.zw
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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Responding to Gender, HIV and VAW in Murewa District, Zimbabwe

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