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Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Zimbabwe
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YWCA of Zimbabwe supports talks between political parties of Zimbabwe
World YWCA
July 16, 2008

The YWCA of Zimbabwe has called upon the Zimbabwe Council of Churches to support the recommendations of international bodies for dialogue between the political parties in Zimbabwe. In a letter addressed to the General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the association commends the churches role in mediation efforts and asks them to support the efforts of women in the following months as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of post election violence that has gripped the country since March 29.

Church leaders in Zimbabwe released a statement for the first time yesterday stating the recent presidential election result was not an expression of the will of the people. They said people are being subjected to violence that includes torture, murder, abductions, displacement and psychological trauma. The church leaders urged a transitional authority be implemented, and said the churches could play a role in talks.

The YWCA of Zimbabwe experienced first hand the political violence church leaders referred to when a youth militia entered the property and threatened to behead the 120 displaced women and children seeking shelter at the hostel four weeks ago. Many of the women and children who had already witnessed torture and murders were left traumatised and terrified.

‘We hope to continue to respond to some of the needs of our people particularly through counselling, spiritual support as well as by imparting conflict resolution and peace building skills to communities we serve,’ says the letter signed by, Maureen Mpofu, President of the YWCA of Zimbabwe and Shelia Matindike, General Secretary of the YWCA of Zimbabwe.

For the full statement, please click HERE

YWCA of the Netherlands urges Dutch Government to pay attention towards the protection of women and girls in Zimbabwe
YWCA, July 11, 2008

The YWCA of Netherlands has called upon the Dutch Government to act immediately on the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe since post election violence broke out on March 29.

"We have released this statement as we are concerned for the safety of women and girls in Zimbabwe. It has been sent to two Ministries, the Human Rights Ambassador, the Human Rights Commission and is part of our YWCA of Netherlands communications work,” says World YWCA Board Member and YWCA of Netherlands President Geeske Zanen.

YWCA of the Netherlands implores the Dutch Government to:
* Reject the second round of elections in Zimbabwe and the presidency of Mugabe and to advocate and exert its strength for the rejection by de United States and the European Union on this matter and to monitor democratic elections in Zimbabwe.
* Condemn the shutdown of NGOs and PVOs in Zimbabwe and to advocate and exert its strength for the rejection by de United States and the European Union on this matter.
* Take responsibility to guarantee the protection of women and girls in Zimbabwe and to advocate and exert its strength for the rejection by de United States and the European Union on this matter.

For the full statement, please click HERE

YWCA Initiatives on Zimbabwe
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda
YWCA 2008

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
I write to brief on the YWCA movement response to the tragedy in Zimbabwe, especially at a moment when we face an escalation of violence, increase in fear and intimidation and erosion of all freedoms. As in any other crisis, women and children bear the brunt of the violence while at the same time their voice is marginalized to the periphery of the political discussions in search of a solution. I share this with a heavy on the eve of 27th of June.

The YWCA Movement been actively involved in the protection of women 's rights and their leadership pre-election and currently at the national, regional and international levels.

The initiatives carried out by YWCA include:

* World YWCA and WSCF mark Zimbabwe 'elections' with a peace vigil outside United Nations
On a day where Zimbabweans are heading to the polls surrounded by escalating violence and human rights abuses, the World YWCA and World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) held a vigil for justice, peace and healing in Zimbabwe outside the Palais de Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
* World YWCA presents declaration on Zimbabwe at 12th Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in Egypt
The World YWCA attended the 12th Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union in Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt, on the margins of the 11th Summit of the African Union.
* Canada urges UN and African Union to protect women and girls in Zimbabwe
Canada’s largest multi-service organization by, for and about women and girls urges United Nations and African Union to protect women and girls amidst the growing violence in Zimbabwe.
* Zimbabweans share grim reality at Human Rights Council
The World YWCA hosted a round table discussion on Zimbabwe with the theme ‘The Role of Women and Young People in Building a Culture of Human Rights in Post-Election Situations’ at the ongoing Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 12. The discussion aimed to address the violence situation in Zimbabwe and explored concrete ways to engage women and young people to end violence and ensure free participation of people in the run off elections on June 27.
* It’s an emergency: Stop the violence and protect women and girls now
A number of NGOs released a statement that urgently calls for an end to the violence in Zimbabwe and for the protection of women and girls in this post election catastrophe.
* Churches worldwide asked to pray for Zimbabwe
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has invited churches worldwide to celebrate a day of prayer for Zimbabwe on Sunday, June 22. The day of prayer for Zimbabwe will take place a few days before run off elections have been scheduled for June 27.

For further information on recent incidents, visit our website: www.worldywca.org

Campaign Addresses Serious Need of Feminine Hygiene Supplies For Girls and Women of Zimbabwe
Action for Southern Africa
May 2008
The economic crisis in Zimbabwe now means that ordinary women are unable to afford basic sanitary protection. With inflation topping 6000%, just one pack of sanitary pads costs more than 50% of the average monthly wage for women in Zimbabwe. Faced with such economic adversity, manufacturers of sanitary products have fled Zimbabwe, compounding the shortages.

Since launching ‘Dignity! Period.’ in 2005/6, ACTSA in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has distributed more than 5 million sanitary pads to the women and girls of Zimbabwe. ACTSA is pleased to announce a new and exciting development in the ‘Dignity! Period.’ campaign by entering into an important partnership with Bodyform, the feminine hygiene manufacturers. Bodyform has joined forces with the ACTSA campaign, to ensure that the women in Zimbabwe are afforded their most basic human rights. We need your help to make a small but significant difference to the lives of the Zimbabwean women.

Please click here to see how you can help.

Urgent Appeal for Solidarity by Zimbabwean Women to African Women and Women All Over the World
World YWCA
May 2008
On March 29,2009 Zimbabwe went to the polls to elect its next government until 2013. From 2 April 2008 the government organised a retribution campaign to target those who allegedly voted for the opposition and since then there has been terror in mostly rural Zimbabwe with youth militia under the command of the army. Many women including the old have been forced to strip naked and beaten on the breasts and buttocks. 7000 teachers, a third of them women have fled their homes and several schools mostly in rural areas are closed. Several girls and women are feared raped. The youngest child seriously assaulted is only 3 years. Despite calls from all corners of the world for the violence to stop, it has become worse and we fear more and more people are getting killed and buried.

Those who can assist should email coalition@zol.co.zw or dakotareed07@gmail.com and we will refer you to all the women in Zimbabwe working in various areas

For more information, please click here

Growing violence in Zimbabwe threatens security of women and girls
World YMCA
May 2008
Women and children are particularly vulnerable during fragile political situations and women in Zimbabwe are already bearing the brunt of violence and unrest. “A large group of women arrived in Harare at 3 am. They walked and took buses all the way from Mashondaland Central – its not safe for them there,” explains the YWCA representative. With food and basic commodities already in short supply, the YWCA of Zimbabwe has little to offer the women but a safe place to wait-out the unrest. At least 47 of the displaced women are mothers with children, while some women had to leave their children behind.

The World YWCA calls on member associations and partners to respond to the situation in Zimbabwe with urgency in the following ways:

* Support and donate ongoing humanitarian efforts

* Say ‘No’ to violence especially abuse of women and girls

* Advocate for an urgent and peaceful solution to the political crisis that includes women’s perspectives and voices in the peace building process

* Dedicate a prayer session to Zimbabwe

For more information, please click here

World YWCA stands in solidarity with Zimbabwean women
March 2008
Zimbabwe has elected 28 women into its lower house of assembly in their March 29 general elections. The World YWCA stands in solidarity with Zimbabwean women as the nation anxiously await result of the presidential election. The World YWCA congratulates the women for successfully wining their campaign amidst a difficult political climate characterised by intimidation and lack of security. Many female candidates successfully navigated the sensitive political climate despite limited access to campaign resources.

For more information, please click here

World YWCA to observe women’s participation in Zimbabwe general elections
March 2008
Zimbabweans will vote in a general election on March 29, 2008. The World YWCA and the YWCA of Zimbabwe in partnership with the All Africa Council of Churches will observe the elections as part of an initiative coordinated by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches. The YWCA of Zimbabwe has trained 100 women, including young women under 30 years old, to serve as election observers. The women will observe the election process guided by the organisation’s commitment towards achieving the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal 3 on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

For more information, please click here

Build a Girls' Empowerment Village in Zimbabwe
International Development Exchange (IDEX)
September 2004
In Zimbabwe, the boy child is given priority in all aspects of life. This has resulted in the escalating number of homeless girls, school drop-outs, child prostitution, rape, HIV/AIDS, forced virginity testing, early marriages and pregnancies. By setting up an Empowerment Village in rural Hwange, the project will reach over 1,000 girls. The first of its kind in the area, the village will expose the rampant abuse against girl children and break the culture of silence and shame in Hwange. Two hundred girls will be assisted in setting up and running income-generating self-help projects. Three hundred girls will be reinstated to schools and 100 girls will be assisted with applications to apply for University.
In addition to 1,000 members, each year at least 300 girls will be assisted with counseling and temporary shelter from abuse. The structure itself will include offices, classrooms, four hostels, two kitchens, and a crafts center. The current estimation of costs of this project is $8,517. To learn more and/or contribute to this project, please click here, or contact Anuradha Srikantan, IDEX Africa Program Director, IDEX, 827 Valencia Street, Suite 101, San Francisco, California 94110, United States. Tel: 415-824-8384.

Women in Politics Support Unit’s New Website
Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU)
26 August 2004
WiPSU has just launched its website which can be accessed on www.wipsu.org.zw. The site covers WiPSU programs and activities, women's participation in local government and Parliament, as well as profiles of Zimbawe's current women MPs. Please send comments and enquiries to wipsu@wipsu.co.zw.

Support for Women in Zimbabwe who Refuse to be Intimidated
Amnesty International Canada
January 2004
Since Valentine’s Day 2003, women belonging to the human rights organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have been repeatedly arrested by the police. Many of the women have been arrested and later released without charge, but some have been charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Some have also been charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act (MOA), usually with “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace”. Lawyers have reported that MOA is often used by the police after they try and fail to bring charges under POSA. Amnesty International believes that this harassment is part of the government’s plan to silence opposition leading up to the March 2005 election. Zimbabwe is now threatening to ban international human rights groups as well as the foreign funding of local organizations. The women of WOZA have refused to be silenced and intimidated by laws that severely restrict the rights of citizens to freely associate, assemble and express themselves - rights that are internationally recognized and are cornerstones of any democratic society. Help us stop the harassment and arrests of these courageous women by writing a polite letter to the Provincial Commanding Officer (a sample letter available here) at the following address: The Officer Commanding, Provincial Headquarters, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe Republic Police, PO Box 701 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A copy of the letter (or a fax) may be sent to the Zimbabwe President, to the Ministry of Justice and to the Zimbabwe High Commission in Canada at addresses available on the website as well.

Ruwadzano Women Income Generating Projects
United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe
The Ruwadzano Mother's Union Council is composed of women of all ages who come together in prayer and fellowship to carry out projects. The high rise in inflation and the HIV/AIDS pandemic has caused economic hardships, the orphaning of children, families headed by children, teenage pregnancy, widowhood, and street kids. The Ruwadzano Mother's Union Council has initiated programs to help care for children and women because the children are at great risk and the women shoulder the brunt of unemployment and other HIV/AIDS-related problems. Women do not have the means of earning a productive living and they and their families encounter severe hardship. To learn more about the projects carried out, and/or to support this women’s group financially, please click here.

WALK WITH WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE, ARISE - WOZA ZIMBABWE - ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY!
19 June 2004
While the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe encourages Zimbabweans to work in the diaspora and send home foreign exchange, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) calling the people of Zimbabwe "resident refugees" risk arrest and assault to march in Harare and Bulawayo on Saturday 19th June to mark World Refugee Day. For more info: Box FM701, Famona, Bulawayo, woza@mango.zw or wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com.

Campaign Against Post-election Sexual Violence
Women's Coalition
2002
A 23-year old woman was captured by government youth militia in north-eastern Zimbabwe and dragged to their camp near Mt Darwin, where she was gagged and gang-raped by a gang of 10 young men high on drink and drugs in a horrifying night of sexual abuse and beatings. Click here to read the report that has created shock waves in women's groups in Zimbabwe. Mobilise to condemn post-election sexual violence by emailing Janah at JanahNc@sunyzim.co.zw to get involved. Write in protest to human rights organisations, and please copy your email to us at nnap@kubatana.net

NATIONAL GENDER POLICY LAUNCHED
Zimbabwe used the occasion of International Women's Day to launch its National Gender Policy. Developed in collaboration with UNIFEM, the Zimbabwe Gender Forum and UNDP Zimbabwe, the policy will facilitate gender mainstreaming in all sectors of the economy and government to promote gender equality and redress historical gender imbalances. Email Nomcebo Manzini for more information.

WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE (WOZA): Come Forward
8 March 2004
WOZA means 'Come forward'. By women for women and with women, across race, colour, creed, class or political persuasion. Empowering women to be courageous, caring, committed and in communication with their communities. 8th MARCH 2004 is INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - MARCH TO DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS Women in Zimbabwe are not celebrating, they are crying because they are being stripped of their rights. Click Here for more information on the March and schedule of events.

Cry Beloved Zimbabwe - Defend your right to love!
14 February 2004
Women from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) organized a Valentines Day protest in Harare calling for an end to violence and hate: "Zimbabweans are told to HATE but choose to LOVE! This will be a better place when the power of love replaces the love of power. We want Zimbabweans to LOVE each other, help us by stopping this hate fire."

Woman’s Peaceful Demonstration
November 2003
Women from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) participcated in a peaceful demonstration in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city Bulawayo, protesting with pounding pots and pans to drive home the point that women in the country have nothing to cook. The head of the women’s pressure group, Jeni Williams, was later arrested together with another WOZA demonstrators. The group also took part in the November 18 mass action organised by the Federation of Trade Unions to press for tax relief and a halt to Zimbabwe’s economic deterioration. To read the full article click here. For more information contact Women of Zimbabwe Arise at wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com.

White Ribbon Campaign
2003
The White Ribbon Campaign is a national year long campaign launched by the Musasa Project to protest against family violence. It calls people to wear the white ribbon as a symbol to protest against family violence and create greater awareness of the problem. Also, it aims to disseminate information and solutions to domestic violence through the campaign pamhlet, talks and meetings with communities, families and friends throughout the country, and to create networks of organisations and individuals committed to ending domestic violence. For more information about how you can participate visit Musasa Project.

Access to Nevirapine, Everywhere, now!
July 2002
Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN) has launched a petition demanding that Government speeds up implementation of a programme that gives free Nevirapine to HIV positive expectant mothers, thereby reducing chances of parent-to-child-transmission (PTCT) of the virus and saving the lives of more babies. Nevirapine is an antiretroviral drug that reduces parent-to-child-transmission (PTCT) of HIV by about 50 percent. The German-based pharmaceutical, Boehringer Ingelheim are supplying it to selected third world countries, including Zimbabwe, free of charge for the next five years. The petition, launched at a National AIDS Candlelight Memorial hosted by WASN in May, marked the beginning of a campaign to ensure that the drug is availed to the intended beneficiaries in all parts of Zimbabwe. For more information visit Women and AIDS Support Network.

Mobilise to condemn sexual-violence
April 2002
The Kubatana Trust of Zimbabwe, incorporating the NGO Network Alliance Project (NNAP), aiming to strenghten the use of email and internet strategies in Zimbabwean NGOs and civil society organisations, have been organizing divserse e-campaigns. The Mobilise to condem sexual-violence electronic campaign, launched as a reponse to a brutal report of a women victim of sexual violence by members of the government, called local, regional and international organizations to address the issue of women sexual violence in Zimbabwe. Click here to read the report. For more informationon about this and other e-campaigns visit Kubatana Net.

Marriage, wills and inheritance laws
2001
Until November 1997, when the new inheritance law was passed, women married under customary law could not inherit from their deceased husbands, as the eldest son was preferred heir. Women’s Action Group has undertaken education campaigns on marriage, wills, and inheritance laws, focusing on target communities. The organisation has now partnered with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parlimentary Affairs, under a nation-wide wills and inheritance laws communications campaign. Under this project, Women’s Action Group, which is focusing on the Midlands Province, is undertaking more than 150 community meetings in the province between July 2001 and May 2002. For more information visit Women’s Action Group.

Engendering the National Budget
August 2000
Women’s Action Group initiated in August, 2000 a lobbying initiative for an engendered budget, seeking to establish women as a major stakeholder in the Zimbabwean national government's budgetary allocation process. The project for a gender sensitive budget aims to empower women on the grassroots level to demand accountability from the government, starting with educating grassroots women and gender activists in economic and budgetary issues, then providing opportunities to effectively lobby for their articulated needs. For more information visit Women’s Action Group.

International