Japan Embassy in fight against GBV

22 Nov, 2020 - 00:11 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Fatima Bulla-Musakwa

THE Embassy of Japan has committed US$182 000 to fund two grassroots projects to help fight gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls in Zimbabwe.

The two initiatives — a Family Support Centre for Women’s Safety and a Clinic for Survivors of GBV — will be set up in Harare and Bulawayo, respectively.

Both projects will be funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), an initiative by the Japanese Government that offers financial assistance for small-scale development projects.

The Japanese embassy signed Memoranda of Understanding on Friday with two local Non-Governmental Organisations — Katswe Sistahood and Family Support Trust — who will oversee implementation of the projects.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Japanese embassy interim Charge d’Affaires, Mr Kenichi Kasahara said equality was a driver of development.

“Achieving gender equality is not an issue specific to Zimbabwe. It is a worldwide issue,” he  said.

“My own country, Japan, is also striving to create a gender-equal society, and has introduced an initiative to ‘create a society in which all women can shine’.

“Japan is committed to promoting gender equality throughout the world.

“To achieve a gender-equal society involves many aspects, including formulating rules and regulations, implementing these rules and regulations, and their social acceptance.”

The two projects are expected to address the issue of gender equality through several initiatives.

The Family Support Centre for Women’s Safety will be set up at Overspill Market in Epworth, at a cost of US$90 909 while the Clinic for Survivors of GBV will be established at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for a similar amount.

Katswe Sistahood, will implement the Epworth project, while Family Support Trust fund will lead the other.

The Centre is projected to provide legal services, reproductive health support, counselling, youth empowerment and training to 3 000 women and girls annually.

The clinic at Mpilo will be a one-stop centre providing counselling, examination, treatment, and legal services, with a view to reducing stigma.

Over 2 000 GBV survivors are expected to receive support at the clinic yearly.

Zimbabwe recorded a 70 percent increase in GBV cases between March and June, at the height of the Covid-19 induced national lockdown.

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