‘Holistic approach needed to curb drug trafficking’

By The Standard and Newsday | Mar. 9, 2022 | 1 Min read

In a statement yesterday ZCLDN called for multi-stakeholder approaches to prevent women from participating in drug trafficking and abuse.

BY NHAU MANGIRAZI THE Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) has called on government to adopt a holistic approach to curb drug trafficking which is affecting mostly women.

In a statement yesterday ZCLDN called for multi-stakeholder approaches to prevent women from participating in drug trafficking and abuse.

“There is need for response programmes to counter discrimination against women who use drugs and their children, and to ensure that such programmes are easily acceptable and accessible to them. Let us work towards a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination,” the statement read.

ZCLDN said while men made up most of the persons who were partaking in drug trafficking, women were often invisible participants and victims, adding that one out of three people using drugs was a woman.

It said one out of five women was on treatment for drug addiction.

“A higher proportion of women than men are in prison for drug-related offences. According to the World Drug Report (2020), about 714 000 are female prisoners globally, while males contribute 19% of the 8,6 million prisoners.”

ZCLDN said women’s involvement in drug use and trade was a result of decreased economic opportunities and their lower political status compared to men.

“Women need to have access to health services including sexual and reproductive health and rights and voluntary HIV and Aids testing, support, counselling as well as rehabilitation and social reintegration services,” ZCLDNsaid.