Girl child abuse cases on the rise

Girl child abuse cases on the rise

By Letwin Mubonesi

THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) and other girl child representing organisations have raised concern over the continued abuse of girls. They have urged government to urgently align laws on the rights of women and girls to the constitution.

In a statement, ZGC chairperson Margaret Mukahanana Sangarwe said it was saddening that there was gender disparity in terms of allocation of resources and benefits during the COVID-19 era.

She said, “There is also a digital divide which results in men and boys benefiting disproportionately to women and girls in terms of access to and use of digital technology. Without a gender-sensitive digital revolution, the girl child is vulnerable and continues to suffer online bullying and also aggravated gender-based violence that takes place online rendering such spaces unsafe.”

The girl child rights defenders urged government to normalise gender in all covid-19 relief, recovery policies and responses.

Cases of the abuse of the girl child are on the rise and this points to lack of enforcement measures because the constitution is clear and legislation is available.

However, but there is no enforcement hence there is need for structural, community and individual strategies to tackle factors fuelling abuses of the girl child in the communities.

ZGC chief executive officer Virginia Muwanigwa said investigations by the commission of sexual exploitation and abuse of the girl child in apostolic sects is still prevalent.

Shamwari YeMwanasikana executive director Ekenia Chifamba said more focus should be placed on challenges faced by the girl child while fighting the covid-19 pandemic.

“We continue to call on our government to expedite the finalisation of the Marriages Bill that will ensure total protection of our girls under the age of 18. The issue of access to education affected a number of young women and girls as the majority of them did not have the gadgets, data and radios where they could access educational materials during covid-19.”