Staff Reporter

The Gender and Inclusion Policy and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling and supporting victims of conflicts related Gender-Based Violence (GBV) was yesterday launched, boosting the fight against such heinous acts in the country.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission’s (NPRC) Gender and Inclusion Policy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) seek to address deficiencies in the current GBV policies and measures that do not address issues to do with assisting victims beyond reporting to the police.

“The launch of the policies at the occasion of the 16 days of Activism Against GBV is evidence of the NPRC’s commitment to shift from just awareness raising to action and accountability to end conflict related GBV,” says Chairperson of the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development, Senator Chief Ndlovu.

Chief Ndlovu says the Gender and Inclusion Policy also provides a guiding framework for the commission as well as its stakeholders in promoting and supporting inclusive and gender responsive peace building processes.

“The NPRC Gender and Inclusion Policy clearly outlines strategies for the prevention and protection of women and girls from violence underpinned on the need to facilitate women’s security for their active participation in socio-economic processes,” says Chief Ndlovu

Acting NRPC Chairperson, Commissioner Lilian Chigwedere, says that there is need for collaboration with all stakeholders in the country to achieve desired results of ending conflict related GBV.

Zimbabwe Media Commission, (ZMC) Chairperson Professor Ruby Magosvongwe said the media is key in digging deeper on issues of GBV, unravelling the causes of GBV and highlighting that men and women as well as boys and girls are victims.

Professor Magosvongwe noted that there was need for the media to unpack the two policy documents to the public and indicate how they could benefit from them.

The launch of these two documents comes at a time the nation is observing 16 days of activism against GBV.