Women and men united to end violence against women and girls

March 8 is International Women’s Day and this year the global call is for women and men to unite and end violence against women and girls.
Looking at the challenges that face southern Africa as a region, among them the hunger, poverty, high HIV infection rates, high incidences of rape and violence against women, failure by girl children to get an education and an inability by women to advocate for safer sex- this theme is perfect as it sums up what needs to happen for the violence to end.

As the world marks the occasion by holding ceremonies and issuing out statements and making speeches- it is up to the women and men in our communities to come together to end violence against women and girls.
The media has the all important role in all this to ensure that people are informed and educated about women’s rights.
There have been developments over the years which have led to women now having the right to vote and own property and to occupy top positions within boardrooms and even governments but can we safely say the battle has been won?

As the world commemorates International Women’s Day, with countries even coming up with specific themes to commemorate the day under, the media should use the opportunity to look at how many women occupy influential positions within their communities and whether they are using those positions to uplift other women and girl children?

If women are still being beaten in your country, this is the time to advocate that this stop and perpetrators of such crimes are punished fully.
If girls are still being forced into marriage without their consent and failing to go to school, this is your chance as a media practitioner to make a difference in those girls’ lives by challenging such customs and practices where they exist.

In Zimbabwe, women are currently battling to feed their families, to get clean and safe water for themselves and their families as well as to access healthcare services as and when they require them. They are currently losing children and husbands to cholera while those women living with HIV are failing to access adequate food and Anti-retroviral therapy.
The media at this point in time has the duty to do its best to lobby government and civil society in that country to move fast towards making life better for women.
Yes, there will be events and ceremonies but the real stories are beyond the events and the ceremonies. This International Women’s Day, let us take the stories from the women, men and the girls from our communities who get to live these stories on a daily basis and share with the rest of the world. That way, we could bring about real change to a woman’s life.

Sources:
www.internationalwomensday.com
www.workforsky.com
www.mediaresourcedesk.org
www.safaids.net