Category: SRHR

One year after Nairobi, the march continues towards rights and choices for all

Michael Gwarisa

Despite global COVID-19 crisis, governments uphold support for women’s and girls’ health and rights, one year after historic summit on ICPD25 AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the health and economies of countries around the world, governments, non-governmental organizations, international financial institutions and the private sector are stepping up political, financial and in-kind support for programmes that protect the health and rights of women and girls in developing countries. A year ago, at the landmark Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, the world came together to commit…

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Sexual Gender Based Violence Linked To High Unsafe Abortions in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

HIGH cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) have been linked to an increase in cases of unsafe and illegal abortions by young girls and women in Zimbabwe, a top government official has said. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking at the Health and Wellness Day that was organized by the Women Action Group (WAG) in Mabvuku, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development Provincial Development Officer Mr Ernest Chimbodza said Zimbabwe was losing lives of young women and girls to unsafe abortions every year. Ladies and gentlemen,…

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Religious and Traditional Leaders join SRHR Africa Trust in the fight against GBV

Healthtimes

TRADITIONAL leaders have agreed that there are some harmful cultural practices that should be abolished if the vision to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) is to be realised. By Patricia Mashiri These abusive cultural norms include chiramu (i, kugara nhaka (wife inheritance) and kuzvarira (marrying off young girls) among others. The traditional leaders accepted that culture is dynamic and therefore people should not be confined to past practices in which some of them were against women’s wishes and were abusive. Speaking during a GBV dialogue led by Sexual Reproductive Health…

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Women Cant Rape Men According to Zimbabwean Law

Michael Gwarisa

DO you all still remember those days a few years back when newspapers would be flooded with stories of women who would target drunk unsuspecting men, have sex with them without their consent for the purposes of harvesting sperms? Almost every headline screamed “Women Rapists On The Loose.” But do you know what the Zimbabwean law says about rape and the procedures one should take reporting a rape case? By Michael Gwarisa According to Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, it is impossible for a woman to rape a…

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More Zim Women Withdraw Rape and SGBV Cases from Police and Courts

Michael Gwarisa

IN a rather disturbing trend, numbers of women withdrawing rape and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases they would have filed with the police or courts have been increasing over the past few years. By Michael Gwarisa Even though the reasons behind the huge withdrawals are yet to be ascertained, it is largely believed that societal and family pressures could be the reason behind the huge spike in case being withdrawn by survivors. Presenting at a Media Sensitisation Workshop on reporting on SGBV in Zimbabwe that was organised by UNICEF,…

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Say It Louder’ Webinar Series addresses the Impact of COVID-19 on Early and Unintended Pregnancy in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region

Michael Gwarisa

THE COVID-19 pandemic has impacted issues such as access to health and education services, including contraception, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy, highlighting the critical need for targeted messaging, information and resources for young people. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) released data showing that the pandemic could result in a projected seven million unintended pregnancies. Since July of 2019, UNESCO, SAfAIDS, UNFPA and Save the Children Sweden with support from PCI Media have been running the Let’s Talk campaign in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. The program aims to reduce early…

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Steroids boost survival of preterm babies in low-resource settings, new study finds

Michael Gwarisa

Accurate pregnancy dating and quality care combined with the steroids are key to survival THE results of a new clinical trial, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that dexamethasone—a glucocorticoid used to treat many conditions, including rheumatic problems and severe COVID-19— can boost survival of premature babies when given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth in low-resource settings. The WHO ACTION-I trial resolves an ongoing controversy about the efficacy of antenatal steroids for improving preterm newborn survival in low-income countries. Dexamethasone and similar drugs…

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Comprehensive Sexuality Education Could Help End SGBV In Schools- UNFPA

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)says Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), could reduce cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SHBV) in schools since it is a scientifically proven methodology of delivering sexuality education to learners. By Michael Gwarisa   Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Zimbabwean schools is perpetrated either by teaching and non-teaching staff and peers. An insidious form of gender-based violence is embedded in child labour practices in the school and the community and gender-based violence is perpetuated by a culture of silence informally maintained by victims, teachers,…

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Tertiary Institutions Should Have Clear GBV Policies To Curb Sexual Exploitation- SAYWHAT

Michael Gwarisa

THE Students and Youths Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) has called on universities, polytechnic colleges, vocational training centers and other in institutions of higher learning to craft Gender Based Violence (GBV) policies in order to effectively deal with incidences of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions. By Michael Gwarisa Cases of sexual harassment and exploitation have been on the increase in most universities and colleges in Zimbabwe even though there is no consolidated data to back it since most victims of Sexual and gender based violence and sexual exploitation…

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United Nations Calls For More Support For The Girl Child In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zimbabwe has paid tribute to adolescent girls in the country as the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child under a global theme – “My voice, our equal future”. By Michael Gwarisa The 2020 theme calls us to reimagine a better future inspired by the ideas and innovations of adolescent girls. Girls in Zimbabwe, as in the world over, face myriad challenges, including gender-based discriminations that result in less opportunities across a range of sectors like education, training and employment, compared…

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