Training on Ensuring Victories Over Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Families and Communities

According to UN Africa, 1 in 3 Zimbabwean women have experienced physical violence and 1 in 4 Zimbabwean women have experienced sexual violence. What exacerbates this cancer is the stigma, impunity and silence attached to this.

Through Family Bonds Foundation, an organization that I have founded, I conducted a training for women and men in the peri-urban communities of Retreat and Eyestone titled Knowledge Base: Ensuring Victories Over Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Families and Communities. The main objective of this program was to empower communities to prevent sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), to provide support systems to survivors of SGBV and educating them for safety and peace in their families and community. The topics under discussion during the program were

• Sexual Harassment in the workplace


• Sexual Harassment in Public Spaces


• Female Genital Mutilation (with reference to girl initiation into womanhood practice(s) in Zimbabwe)


• Forced marriage and Child Brides


• Rape and Assault


• Prostitution


•  Domestic Partner Violence


• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

Exposure to IPV on children was looked at on the angle of

•increased risk of psychological, social, emotional and behavioral problems including mood and anxiety disorders,

•substance abuse and

•school-related problems in children and adolescents.

This discussion aimed to equip parents with skills and the know-how to build a strong family unit thus the dialogue mainly encouraged parents to prevent or end IPV itself.

Again, participants explained how their different cultures and beliefs exacerbate FGM, why it is practiced and to whose benefit. Other participants argued for the practice - arguing it was important for one to keep and sustain their marriage - and others against - why one should have to make themselves go through excruciating pain for a man and marriage.

First hand experiences of the participants with regards to these issues were shared and how community engagement is helping to rectify them as well as suggestions on what can be done in the community to safeguard children's livelihood....in particular, the girl child. At the end of the program we honored the 25 program participants with certificates of participation.