Evidence of politically motivated violence against Zimbabwean women

New Documentary and Report Provides Evidence of Politically Motivated Violence against Zimbabwean Women

(Harare, Zimbabwe – May 5, 2009) Today, the Research and Advocacy Unit [RAU], an NGO working on providing specialist assistance in research and advocacy in the field of human rights , democracy and governance, released a video and written report documenting political and human rights violations against women in Zimbabwe.

The documentary, ‘Hear Us – Zimbabwean Women Affected by Political Violence Speak Out,’ and accompanying report, “Putting it Right: Addressing Human Rights Violations Against Zimbabwean Women,” present the findings of RAU’s study and call for action on the issue of politically motivated violence against women.

The video tells stories of four women who were tortured for their political activities or those of a family member. In the video a 30-something year old woman named Memory recounts how she was raped by youth militia, She recalls, “When I arrived at the base, they removed all my clothes and I was raped by three men, one after the other.” When she went to the police station to report the incident, she was told that they would not accept her statement. The policeman told her, “We are not dealing with political violence cases. The time will come when we will deal with them.”

Human Rights groups in Zimbabwe estimate that between May and July 2008, over 2000 women were raped at militia camps. Given the fact that the police did not accept reports of politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe and that reports of rape are usually met with suspicion, stigma and hostility towards the victim causing most victims not to report, these groups believe the actual number of women impacted by this violence is much greater.

In the accompanying report, “Putting it Right: Addressing Human Rights Violations Against Zimbabwean Women,” the overriding assertion is that in all situations of conflict, merely by virtue of their gender identity, women are both primary and secondary victims of violence. The political parties in Zimbabwe signed a historic deal on the 15th September 2008, agreeing to put an end to the political and economic crisis and to end politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe. Women in Zimbabwe welcomed the Global Political Agreement (GPA) as it acknowledges the equality between men and women and recognizes women’s role in nation building and the abuses they suffered in the process, and continue to suffer.

Bearing in mind that any transitional process will not be effective unless it addresses the issues raised by those affected and acknowledging the evidence that in Zimbabwe attempts at national healing and reconciliation without retributive measures provide a short-lived remedy to conflict, RAU urges the Zimbabwean government to enact the following recommendations:

*Adhere to the GPA particularly by;

a) Returning to the rule of law (Article 11)

b) Bringing all the perpetrators of violence to book (Article 18.5 (c))

c) Ensuring that there is no discrimination based on gender (Article 7.1(a))

d) Ensuring community integration and national healing (Article 7.1(c))

*Complement any transitional justice mechanism with other programs, e.g. education, legal literacy and socio economic concerns in order that victims especially women and girls be able to rebuild their lives;

*Recognize and involve women at every stage of the transitional process on issues that relate to them as women. The process has to look at human rights abuses perpetrated against women qua women not as generic human rights abuses;

* Incorporate all signed human rights instruments relating to women into domestic law; particularly the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

“Putting it Right” also urges the Southern African Development Community [SADC] to:

*Ensure the Zimbabwe government implements the GPA and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.