IN FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE, UN ENLISTS TRADITIONAL CHIEFS

IN FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE, UN ENLISTS TRADITIONAL CHIEFS
New York, Aug 24 2007 10:00AM
Hundreds of traditional leaders across Zimbabwe are being <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_40662.html">trained to help fight domestic abuse in their communities under a United Nations-backed initiative launched in cooperation with the Government and women lawyers in the Central African country.

"Chiefs play a pivotal role in settling domestic disputes across rural Zimbabwe," UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative Festo Kavishe said. "They are often the custodians of traditional law and receive the bulk of cases dealing with domestic violence. Yet, too often in the past they have lacked the power and knowledge to prevent and adequately respond to domestic violence."

The training, launched by UNICEF, the Government and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, ensures that more than 300 chiefs learn how to apply and interpret the recently enacted and historic Domestic Violence Act, stop abuse and offer support to victims in their communities.

Amid continuing economic hardships, unemployment at 70 per cent, and a growing HIV/AIDS crisis, anecdotal evidence has shown not only an increase in domestic violence, but in its severity as well. In Zimbabwe 95 per cent of the victims of domestic violence are women.

"Advocating for a Domestic Violence law was a triumph, a great first stride," UNICEF's gender focal person Jelda Nhiziyo said. "But this is the beginning. The greatest challenges lie ahead. We must fight to change mindsets, entrenched values and habits, and in this struggle traditional leaders are the key."

The Domestic Violence Act provides clear laws to protect victims and provides long-term measures to tackle the problem by imposing stiffer sentences, placing special duties on police to assist victims with special sections set up at police stations, ensuring police are trained on the Bill and advise victims of their rights, and immediately providing victims with a court issued protection order.

Beyond the training, UNICEF is actively engaged in working to reduce domestic violence in Zimbabwe, training pastors, police and communities on handling the problem and instructing teachers on how they can provide life skills to victims.
2007-08-24 00:00:00.000

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