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Hear Us, Stand With Us: Zimbabwean Women Rise Against Sexual Violence
Por: Priscila Néri, Enviado: Aug 27 09
Regions: Africa, Zimbabwe
Issues: Impunity, Justice, Rape and sexual abuse
Tags: Elections, political violence, RAU, robert mugabe, violence against women, zanu-pf
UPDATES: THANK YOU to the 1600+ people who signed the petition and the thousands more that joined the campaign on the Hub, Facebook, and Twitter. Here's how the campaign unfolded last week:
*Aug 31: WITNESS' Bukeni Waruzi arrives in South Africa to meet with Kuda (from RAU), Memory (one of the women who shares her story in Hear Us), and members of the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe and IDASA.
*Sept 1: Memory and Kuda are interviewed on live TV by SABC (see video here); other media outlets like The Times from South Africa also report on the campaign.
*Sept 2: The petitions are delivered to key South African government officials on their way to SADC and they pledge to take the message to the summit.
*Sept 4: Dispatch from South Africa - New video provides full update of the week.
*Sept 7: RAU publishes an open letter to SADC in the Congolese media as African Heads of State meet in Kinshasa.
*Sept 9: New video from Bukeni thanks everyone and looks forward to the next steps in the campaign.
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In 2008, political violence erupted throughout Zimbabwe as a result of highly contested national elections. Between May and July alone, local organizations estimate that state-sanctioned groups abducted, raped, tortured, and beat over 2,000 women and girls due to their political affiliations. Local police have ignored these women's pleas for protection, justice, and accountability, and national leaders have been equally unresponsive. Hear Us - a video co-produced by Zimbabwean Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) and WITNESS - features four of these women who have come forward to demand justice from the Zimbabwean government and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Next month, the SADC summit is being held in Kinshasa from September 2-8 2009. Help us collect 2,000 (or more!) messages of support to be delivered to SADC leaders at the summit. Add your voice to the call for justice for the Zimbabwean women - sign our petition, record a video message, tweet the campaign, or leave a comment below. |
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Video Responses
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Watch Hear Us...
...the story of four Zimbabwean women affected by political violence |
*** A huge THANKS to all of the amazingly dedicated interns that worked so hard to get this page up, especially Caitlin Clay, William Pollock, and Opal Tometi!
Comments
Not to be tolerated
PorSamuelson on Aug 18 09
This should not be tolerated by every human being. Society should learn to have human dignity and not allow the violation of women's rights like it was child's play
Africa must realize that it
PorAinaeny on Aug 18 09
Africa must realize that it will only achieve prosperitiy when it protects the rights of both men and women. When Zimbabwean women suffer, the rest of Africa also suffers.
arretons l impunite des auteurs de violences envers les femmes
Porunion congolaisede femmes de medias ucofem on Aug 18 09
ne laissons pas impuni les violences faites aux femmes
Stop violationg women and girls!
PorNjeri Kariri on Aug 18 09
This is completely unacceptable.
End Violence Against Women in Zimbabwe
PorTererai Mawema on Aug 18 09
I totally support your cause and stand by you in you endeavours to fight against this barbaric practice. Women are strong in spirit and those who use force against you in any form is symptomatic of their own weaknesses.
Stop rape and violence against women
PorDr. Joseph Yav on Aug 18 09
Living and working in a war-torn country, the DRC, I know what is alike in Zimbabwe. Therefore, we should unite againt rape and women violence. This is our responsibility.
Zimbabwean women must have
PorAisling on Aug 17 09
Zimbabwean women must have their human rights respected and the Zimbabwean Government must ensure that violence against women is no longer part of Zimbabwean society. These Zimbabwean women, who have suffered so terribly after the 2008 elections, are entitled to see the perpetrators of the crimes against them brought to justice. The Zimbabwean authorities should acknowledge their suffering and offer them the redress and care they deserve.
Every man must fight with
PorAndre Stumpner on Aug 17 09
Every man must fight with womans for womans right, against the Monsters. (Sorry, about my english)
An End to Sexual Violence
PorGlobal Awareness Project Consulting, LLC on Aug 17 09
For generations, rape has been used as an instrument of war and a tool of violence targeted against women and in some cases men as well. As an international community it is our responsibility to uphold human rights, stand in solidarity with victims of violence, and to denounce and prosecute the perpetrators. Through education, compassion, and action we all can end sexual violence.
Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women in Zimbabwe!
PorMehrnoush Ramezanali on Aug 15 09
I support women in Zimbabwe, wants to stop violence, raping towards this delicate creatures. They are all full of love and sacritice try to understand these flowers and respect them with out them men never born on the earth, they give life to you (men) never forget it without them you are nothing.