Statement on the Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day

As we come to the end of our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, the Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) joins the  world in commemorating the International Human Rights Day.

The theme of the 2019 International Human Rights Day, Youth Standing Up for Human Rights resonates well with our 2019 – 2023 strategic thrust which calls for a well-trained, mentored and nurtured young people with life skills in Manicaland Province. The 2019 – 2023 strategic thrust is buttressed by our programming and implementation that places young people at the centre of community development initiatives as we strongly believe that they are the drivers and agents of transformation and social change.

We call upon policy makers and community stakeholders to provide a conducive environment in which young people can enjoy their inalienable human rights. From our programming, we have realised that young people play an integral part in advancing social justice, democracy and peace in local communities.  Despite the young people’s passion for human rights, their contribution has been undermined by our political leadership who view young people as political cannon fodder and spectator partners for the full realisation of a human rights culture in Zimbabwe.

The upholding of human rights in Zimbabwe has become a challenge, with human rights abuses increasing at an alarming rate. This has exposed young people to serious challenges which limit their freedoms of assembly and expression. Having realised that they are growing up in a context marked by serious human rights violations, pervasive poverty and weak social controls, the young people have been exposed to a vampire world yet with little coping mechanisms to advance the principles of human rights in local communities.

PYCD is closely working with young people to socialise them to value human rights based approaches as a solution that brings about social cohesion, good health, political tolerance and economic growth.

Ward 20 Councillor bemoans early marriages and school drop outs in Chibuwe.

Speaking at a Family Fun Day in Chibuwe organised by Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) on the 5th of December 2019, Councillor Charles Mugidho Mahlonga bemoans the rising cases of early marriages in Chibuwe.

" The fun day is happening alongside the commemoration of 16 days of activism against Gender based violence and I am here to express my concern on early marriages; children as young as 12 years are getting married .The children are running into marriage instead of focusing on education" Councillor Mugidho said.

Councillor Mugidho has been working with community stakeholders in denouncing child pledging and other forms of child marriages. However, there have been worrisome cases of children being involved in child pledging due to adequate and effective awareness on harmful cultural practices. Most children in the community are exposed to irresponsible men

" We have agreed with the traditional leadership to denounce child pledging but it's shocking to see the children we are protecting getting married .At Chibuwe high I have received reports of girls who have dropped out of school " He added.

PYCD was commended on its role in denouncing harmful cultural practices through various activities in ward 20 that included awareness and a stakeholder approach to the human and wildlife conflict.

The Family Fun Day was held to interface with the victims and survivors of cyclone Idai disaster which caused untold damage in Chipinge and Chimanimani. The tropical cyclone Idai, a natural disaster that hit Chimanimani and Chipinge districts in March 2019, caused flooding and left a trail of destruction. Chibuwe was one of the most affected areas in Chipinge district, with Chibuwe Primary School losing a block of toilets that was serving the more than 2000 learners at the school. The tropical cyclone Idai was intricately linked to the concept of social vulnerability and it disrupted the social functioning of people by destroying the common forms of survival such as food security, health, education and other related aspects of humanity in the community.

The Family Fun Day at Chibuwe Primary School acted as a way to bring people in the community together through cultural events and various activities that offer psycho – social support.

Sex workers in Checheche bemoans lack of confidentiality at St Peters hospital

Artwel Chingwara

Speaking at a focus group discussion at Checheche organised by the Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) Gender desk; Sex workers complained of the publication of their health status which lead them to lose customers and even reluctant to seek medical help

“The medical staff at the local hospital (name supplied) doesn't respect our privacy and confidentiality when we go to seek medical help on sexual transmitted infections. This has made many of us not to seek urgent treatment making the infections get into serious stage" Said Chipo,who is one of the familiar and regular visitors to the PYCD Drop In centre in Checheche.

She went on to say her friend nearly died of genital watts as she feared to go to the local hospital and ended up resorting to traditional remedies which could not help.

PYCD Gender Wellness and Advocacy Officer Ms Cynthia Gwenzi urged the sex workers not to delay seeking medical attention. She went on to suggest to them to continue visiting the nearest clinics since her organisation would come to their help by engaging with the hospital staff. Despite this assurance, the sex workers complained that the treatment they were getting was inhumane in addition to the fact that the charges are expensive and unaffordable considering the little they get after providing services.

"We don't have money to seek medical help at other centres since we charge smaller amounts moreover customers are now low because of the economic situation. We beg PYCD to talk with the local hospital staff to respect patients’ privacy and confidentiality; if that is sorted we will feel free to be treated”.

Said one of the vocal participants identified only as Mai Tee.

This important discussion came at a time when PYCD has joined the international community in celebrating 16 days of activism against Gender based violence under the theme "ORANGE THE WORLD: GENDERATION EQUALITY STANDS AGAINST RAPE"

This year's theme resonates with the efforts PYCD have been making in undertaking its endeavour to empower young women and girls against harmful cultural practices.

The achievement of Goal 5 on Gender Equality by 2030 requires urgent action to eliminate the many root causes of discrimination that still curtail women’s rights in private and public spheres. Eliminating gender-based violence is a priority, given that this is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world today.

Vheneka village welcomes the message to speak out against violence

Cheriel Dzobo

There was consensus by the women who were participants to a women hearing in Vheneka village, that speaking out about their experiences of abuse and violence was one of the surest ways of eliminating violence against women and girls in Chipinge district.

Ms Cynthia Gwenzi who was the guest visitor for the hearing, encouraged the women to speak out and fight the tendency of suffering in silence. She went on to say that tolerating gender based violence and rape is tantamount to violence as this lead to more people falling victims. The women who attended the hearing session were notified of the existence of a drop in centre at the PYCD Offices. The main purpose of the drop in centre is to receive and document all cases of violence against women including harmful cultural practices that hinder women’s positive contribution to the development of our community. Women who come to the centre are offered counselling and other relevant skills to institute the process of apprehending perpetrators of gender based violence.

The women hearing attracted 25 women from Vheneka who were mobilised to speak out about their personal experiences in response to the various challenges in the ward which includes early child marriages, school drop outs, wife beating and high cases of divorce.

Women who attended appreciated the role of PYCD for enlightening them to understand that they have a voice and were equal partners for development together with their male counterparts.

“Women hearing has been part of our response to afford women an environment and platform that is free of men so that the participants can freely reflect and plan on the best way to end GBV and early child marriages” Cynthia Gwenzi , PYCD Gender Wellness and Advocacy Officer reiterated

The Women Hearing in Vheneka was organised as part of PYCD’s commemoration of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence that is being held under the theme: Orange the World: Generation Equality stands against Rape. Vheneka village is found in ward 27 of Chipinge South constituency. There has been numerous reports of gender based violence in the ward, and it becomes imperative to hold a women hearing session. The women hearing in Vheneka village aimed to prevent gender-based violence through a consultative approach.

The women hearing in Vheneka brought to the fore the main challenge for violence prevention as the absence of health or social services. The absence of health and social services expose the village with little support with which to intervene in cases of gender based violence. There is little police intervention, and the village is left to police the situation themselves. On the other hand, there is also little social services support for women victims, and therefore, the priority for the village then becomes the maintenance of the status quo rather than protection of the woman experiencing abuse or violence.