THEME: “ERADICATE GBV: GENDER LENS FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY: #BEIJING +30”
The ZCTU leadership, General Council Members, Affiliate Leadership, ZCTU Structures, Workers of Zimbabwe, Civic Society and Community leaders here present, I want to welcome you all to this very important occasion. ZCTU today joins the rest of the world in the fight against Gender Based Violence. The commemoration takes place from 25 November to 10 December every year and it is a time to join forces and strengthen our fight to eliminate this serious crime to humanity.
This year the United Nations under the Global Theme: “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to end Violence Against Women and Girls”, is focusing on the following critical areas: -
1. Strengthening accountability for ending violence against women and girls;
2. Accelerating action through increased funding and well-resourced national strategies
3. Holding perpetrators accountable
4. Investing in solutions to protect women and girls
The labour movement stands here as the voice of the voiceless and this is reflected in our theme: “Eradicate GBV: Gender Lens Towards Justice and Equity: #Beijing +30”. The ZCTU theme says it all comrades, as champions of human and workers’ rights, we stand for Peace, Dignity, Justice and Equity, through elimination of violence and harassment. We stand for those workers who are suffering in silence because they are afraid, or they are oppressed. We leave No person behind comrades, because we stand for equality, decent work and social justice in the world of work.
Gender Based Violence involves the abuse of power and control over another person and it is perpetrated against someone based on their gender identity or status. Violence is also prevalent in the workplace in the form of sexual harassment, discrimination and economic violence. Besides workplace violence, there are other forms of violence such as domestic and spousal abuses.
These have an indirect impact to the workplace as the victim’s performance at work, concentration and productivity will be affected once he or she falls victim to such abuses. Women and Girls, Young People and Persons with disabilities have been more vulnerable to such kind of abuses. The Beijing Platform for action identified violence against women and girls as one of the 12 Priorities in 1995. Next year, 2025 will mark 30 years of campaigns and action to eliminate violence and harassment. As we move towards this critical time of assessment, we must intensify our action towards ending violence by focusing on the urgent need to address the escalation of violence against women and girls, as a vulnerable group.
According to the UN Women report (2023), Four in every five women and girls (i.e. 86 per cent) are living in countries without robust legal protection, or in countries for which Statistics on Gender Based Violence and Harassment are not readily available. The UN also states that Every 10 Minutes, a woman or a girl is killed or raped. This warrants urgent action ladies and gentlemen, and this is the time to unite in order to fight this noble cause.
The ZCTU today joins the rest of the world in calling for an end to violence and harassment in the world of work against women, girls, men and boys. Gender Based Violence and Harassment has been a destructive cancer in the workplaces, in the homes, in our schools, especially Tertiary Schools and in our communities. Both men, women and children have been victims of this scourge, while women, girls and children have received a bigger share of violence, torture and torment. The ZCTU therefore aims to fight the culture of silence and ensure workers report perpetrators of gender-based violence and harassment on time.
The ZCTU also appreciates the incorporation of the Right to Freedom from Violence in the Labour Amendment Act. However, we urge the government to intensify efforts to eliminate violence and harassment as we move towards the Beijing +30.
Therefore, on this note, as ZCTU, we submit the following demands on behalf of the working masses: -
1. Ratify and Domesticate ILO Convention 190 for Zimbabweans to enjoy ‘A world of work free from violence and harassment’.
2. Put in place laws and policies that will outlaw any traditional practices that promote sexual abuse, violence and harassment in Zimbabwe;
3. Adopt a comprehensive law on sexual harassment with punitive measures for perpetrators, to protect every person residing or visiting in Zimbabwe.
4. Enact a Whistle-blower protection law in order to encourage safe reporting without fear of any repercussions.
5. Establish Rehabilitation and counselling support centres for Victims of violence and harassment.
6. Make it mandatory for all workplaces to have a policy on sexual harassment and GBV, to be negotiated by employers and workers’ committees or trade unions at sectoral level.
7. Enforce the Child Protection Act and ensure our children are safe.
8. Empower and Fund the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to monitor cases of violence and abuses within their constitutional mandate.
9. Victim Friendly Unit of ZRP to be properly funded and trained on ILO Convention 190 in order to strengthen their capacity to deal with cases of violence and abuse.
Lastly I want to appreciate all of you for your commitment and support and wish you all a fruitful commemoration. Remember our culture as Zimbabweans is about the Spirit of Ubuntu, Love and Compassion, Not Violence. I thank you.
SHINGA MUSHANDI SHINGA!!! SHINGA MUDZIMAI SHINGA!!! QINA MAMA QINA!!! SOLIDARITY FOREVER!!!
