PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

ZIMBABWE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT AND AWARDS 23-25 APRIL 2012 VENUE: KOPONANG HOTEL, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AND EMPOWER WOMEN

CHIREDZI TOWN COUNCIL

MEN AGAINST GBV

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM?

CHIREDZI POLICE STATISTICS ON REPORTED CASES OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE revealed that men were the main perpetrators of GBV. According to the VICTIM FRIENDLY UNIT, the prevalence of GBV is as follows

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

Men on women Women on men Other

70% 10% 20%

As a result, Chiredzi Town Council decided to create an all-inclusive GBV awareness campaign with MEN AS THE FOCAL GROUP.

MEN AGAINST GBV

IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

The GBV awareness campaign is important because, Alongside women, MEN SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY ARE JOINTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ELIMINATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE in the community.
Men and boys should be taught about the possible sexual and mental suffering that they inflict on women and girls, whether its done intentionally or innocently. Male community leaders should be transformed into role models Male and female law enforcement and judicial officials need reminding, that they must approach gender-based violence issues with professionalism and independence.

MEN AGAINST GBV

HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM?

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

Councils Senior Management came up with a 2012 ACTION PLAN for combating gender based violence. It lists, The name of the activity to be carried out The expected outcome from performing the activity The party that is responsible for undertaking the activity The organization(s) that will partner Council in achieving the set targets The time frame for the activity The source of funding for the activity

The Action Plan is shown below,

MEN AGAINST GBV

ACTION PLAN
Steps Name of activity Expected Outcome Party to undertake the activity
Chiredzi Town Council

Partner organizations
Gender Links

Time frame

Funding

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

Preparing a curricular and teaching methodology for imparting Genderbased violence knowledge to residents

The development of a professional development programme for residents related to G.B.V issues

2/01/12-23/01/12

Chiredzi Town Council

Undertaking activities aimed to raise awareness to residents, representatives of Government and Quasi-Government institutions, N.G.Os and the press regarding G.B.V

Consultative sessions and discussions will be carried out with the participation of residents, the Police, representatives of the Judiciary, N.G.Os, Government and Quasi Government institutions, Local gender activists and the media, with a view of raising awareness about GBV and the elimination of gender stereotypes.

Dissemination of information materials on GBV and the efforts that are being made to combat it at local, national, regional and international levels

Leaflets and booklets on GBV will be prepared, published and disseminated to residents

Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Justice and Legal affairs, Ministry of Women s Affairs Ministry of Local Governm ent N.G.Os Local Press Chiredzi Town Council Chiredzi Rural Council Ministry for Women s Affairs

Gender Links

24/01/12-27/03/12

Chiredzi Town Council Local N.G.Os

Gender links F.A.C.T

24/01/12-10/12/12

Chiredzi Town Council Gender Links Donors

4.

Carrying out special activities aimed at combating GBV

16 Days of activism against GBV will be carried out

Ministry for Womens Affairs Chiredzi Town Council

Gender Links WIPSU

25/11/1210/12/12

CTC International partners

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

5.

Staging theatrical events on subjects related to GBV.

Performing plays on issues related to GBV

Lectures on GBV will target schools in the District

Chiredzi Arts Society Chiredzi Town Council

Chiredzi Rural Council Ministry of Education Ministry for Womens Affairs Ministry for Home Affairs Ministry of Health Ministry of Health FACT MSASA Project

Gender Links

24/01/1226/06/11

C.T.C Donors

6.

Giving schools and lectures on GBV

Gender links WIPSU Msasa Project FACT

1/03/121/07/12

C.T.C Local NGOs

7.

Training Parents on the need for impartial treatment for both the girl child and the boy child.

Use of social scientists to offer Counselling to parents, particularly those in the low income group i.e. the poor

Gender Links

1/03/1229/06/12

Gender Links Local NGOs

MEN AGAINST GBV

WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE PROJECT?

THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE PROJECT IS 12 MONTHS. However, the elimination of GBV is an on-going process.

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

MEN AGAINST GBV

WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY INVOLVED? THE KEY TARGET FOR THE GENDER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS CHIREDZI MEN.

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

They are educated on how to, 1. RELATE with women 2. Meet regularly and SHARE INFORMATION on GBV issues. 3. CONTRIBUTE their time and effort towards ending GBV 4. Provide morale and financial SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OR SURVIVORS OF GBV 5. TAKE ACTION against GBV as opposed to being bystanders.. 6. BE RESPECTFUL towards women and avoid profanities. 7. TO BE ROLE MODELS for boys i.e. to teach them to be respectful and never to abusive women.

PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE PROJECT

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

Male Councillors Traditional Leaders Government institutions Quasi Government institutions N.G.Os Political Parties Mens and Womens groups The Media

MEN AGAINST GBV

RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE MOBILISED? The resources for carrying out the campaign were,

FINANCIAL RESOURCES:
HUMAN RESOURCES: MATERIAL RESOURCES:

Financial resources were provided by Council

Human resources were provided by Council gender activists Material resources were provided by Gender links

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

MEN AGAINST GBV

CREATIVITY: HOW ARE ARTS, CULTURE, POPULAR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA BEING USED TO MOBILISE AND POPULARISE THE ISSUE?

Chiredzi Town Council managed to

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

Sponsor street theatre performances by gender activists and Chiredzi Arts Association. The theme for the shows was highlight the negative influences that gender-based violence has on society.

MEN AGAINST GBV

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The Action Plan shall be used to track progress on whether all GBV prevention objectives are achieved and achieved on time. Whenever the action plan is not adhered to, management will re-strategise and corrective action shall be taken to address challenges.

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

According to the results of sampling done by Council in all 10 wards (300 men), approximately 40% of men in Chiredzi have a high awareness level of GBV. Since the total population of Chiredzi is 70 000, 100% awareness is possible by 2015

MEN AGAINST GBV

RESULTS: WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

Whilst it may be still premature to make conclusions about the success of the exercise. The responses given by men indicate that they recognise their role in ending GBV Cooperation between the stakeholders on GBV issues has improved significantly. The majority of gender-related campaigns are done after consultation with interested parties. This has ensured unity of purpose in achieving gender-related targets. Consultative meetings at ward level have had a moral effect on potential GBV perpetrators. Cases will likely decline because of fear of retribution by Police and fear of being labelled as outcasts by society.

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

MEN AGAINST GBV

IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOL TARGETS) With reference to the 28 targets of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Chiredzi Town Council is helping to,

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

Halve the current levels of gender-based violence by 2015 and 365 days of local action to end GBV

GBV AWARENESS CAMPAIGN -TAXI OPERATORS AND RANK MARSHALS

MEN AGAINST GBV

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION The GBV awareness programme is sustainable and can be replicated. Other Councils of similar size like Chiredzi can do the same GBV awareness campaigns at minimal strain to their budgets.

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

WELFARE CLERK WITH WAITING-LIST-REGISTER

WAITING LIST APPLICATION FORM

MEN AGAINST GBV

WHAT LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED

PROJECTS: GBV RESPONSE

There is a huge link between poverty and GBV.

The solution required to solve this problem is to have community-based poverty reduction strategies for women, which include allocating them land and market stalls. That is why Council issued 16 out of 38 commercial stands and 310 out of 500 flea market stalls to women in 2010/2011 Tradition, based on a patriarchal system, is a major contributor to GBV. Men should not use culture to disenfranchise women. Some GBV cases go unreported because the community does not consider them to be GBV cases e.g. Wife beating being labelled as wife disciplining Synergy (amongst stakeholders) in the fight against GBV is required to get the best results. Council and the Police cannot go-at-it alone without assistance from all relevant partners

ANY QUESTIONS

PRESENTED BY OWEN GWASIRA AUDITOR