25 November, 2020
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) this year again joins the rest of the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, in enactment of the theme “Orange the World: Refund, Respond, Prevent, Collect”.
Conversely, 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is this year celebrated on a different note, whereby the world has been hit hard by the novel corona virus. Zimbabwe and most countries are under lockdown in trying to curb the spread of the virus.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe in chapter 4: Subsection 2, Section 51, 52 and 53 provides for the right to dignity, personal security, and freedom from inhumane, degrading treatment and all forms of violence. Section 52 of the Constitution states that “Every person has the right to bodily and psychological integrity which includes, the right to freedom from all forms of violence from public or private sources”. BVTA abhors and strongly condemns the harassment of women, youth and children physically, emotionally and sexually. It has come to the attention of BVTA that different forms of harassment continue to increase, especially on women informal traders from their spouses. This is due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, which have forced women to stay indoors due to their vulnerability to harrasment and abuse. COVID-19 causes suffering and economic devastation to women informal traders, which results to domestic violence.
In response to such cases, 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence will be used as a strategy to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women informal traders.Reports on cases of harassment and abuse have been heard also on women Informal Cross Border Traders (ICBTs), who are extorted by unscrupulous authorities at border posts as a way of paying bribes.BVTA implores local authorities to strengthen policies and laws on protection of humans against rape and sexual harassment.
Issued by BVTA Information and Publicity Unit
Contact details: Fourth floor, Suite 406, Fidelity Life Building Fife street and 11th Avenue Email:bulawayovendors@gmail.com Facebook: Bulawayo Vendors Trust/ Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association Twitter: @bvtatrust Website: www.bvtatrust.org Phone: +263 713 635 90
