Government urged to protect sexual violence survivors

By Romio Takundwa

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has urged government to strengthen its response to sexual violence cases by facilitating access to justice through efficient and independent reporting systems.

The human rights lobby group was commemorating the International Day for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The resolution to mark this day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the 19th of June 2015 to raise awareness on the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence.

In its statement to mark the day, The Forum bemoaned the move by government to vote against the United Nations General Assembly Resolution seeking to protect vulnerable groups against genocide.

“On 18 May 2021, Zimbabwe was one of the 15 States that voted against a United Nations General Assembly Resolution seeking to protect vulnerable groups against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

“The country’s vote against the UN Resolution is indicative of government policy on war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide,” read the statement.

Section 52 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe grants every person the right to bodily, psychological integrity and freedom from all forms of violence from public or private sources.

The Forum called upon government to strengthen protection systems for survivors providing government-funded psychological care to survivors.