Successful action against Domestic Violence

Women's Coalition, a network of women's organisations, and other gender activists celebrate their successful lobby campaign, which was concluded with the signing of the Domestic Violence Bill in February 2007.

Billboard on Domestic Violence Bill

In Zimbabwe one in every four women suffers from violent abuse in her home and one in every four women have been forced to sex by their partners. The effects can be devastating, in fact domestic violence is one of the leading causes of death for women aged between 15 – 40 years, according to a study carried out by Musasa Project.

The HIV/Aids epidemic adds an extra dimension to the problem, because violence or the fear of violence hinders women’s ability to prevent transmission and infection. It also impedes their access to a range of services, including testing and treatment. Nearly 65% of all HIV positive people aged between 15 and 49 are women. Unequal rights to property mean that women may be forced to leave their homes when widowed or diagnosed HIV-positive making them very vulnerable to poverty.

Previously the victims found themselves helpless, as there was no legal framework for dealing with intimate crimes at household level. The police and the courts lacked judicial guidance on how to handle reported cases of domestic violence. In effect many cases remained unreported and victims continue to suffer in silence.

Netsai Mushonga, Director of Women's Coalition

Need for legal protection
Women’s groups and gender activists have therefore called for legal protection and initiated the drafting of the Domestic Violence Bill which seeks to provide for protection and relief to victims of domestic violence. With support from MS Zimbabwe and other partners the members of Women’s Coalition embarked on a successful lobby campaign in 2006, including meetings with politicians, awareness raising on TV, radio and public debates. In June the bill was finally tabled in parliament for the first time. Early this year the members of Women's Coalition could yield the fruits of their work.

A crucial step

The passing and subsequent enforcement of the bill is crucial towards the empowerment of women in Zimbabwe, towards equity and a peaceful society, and above all it is a crucial step for the protection of women, children and men who suffer from gender based violence.

With the Domestic Violence Bill activists in Zimbabwe are setting an example and hopefully their success story will inspire others and help to reduce violence in homes all around the world.