AT least 2 500 marginalised women have benefited from empowerment initiatives under the European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative programme.
The beneficiaries included gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, women living with HIV and impoverished women in rural areas.
Zimbabwe is one of eight African countries to benefit under the Global Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Presenting a report on the programme to President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, Women’s Affairs minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the fight against sexual and gender-based violence could only be won when women and girls had equal access to opportunities with men and boys.
“Going forward, the results achieved through the Spotlight Initiative partnerships set us on course towards the achievement of the national commitments espoused in the High Level Political Compact (HLPC),” Nyoni said.
Zimbabwe has been identified by the secretariat as the “best performer for the Africa region”.
Nyoni said the results, achieved through partnerships, set the country on course towards the achievement of the national commitments espoused in the HLPC.
“As a sustainability measure, the HLPC will continue to be implemented through a whole of government and all-society approach for its duration up to 2030,” she said.
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“We acknowledge the support towards strengthening my ministry’s co-ordinating capacity at national, provincial and district levels and pledge to continue to ensure this role delivers coordinated multi-sectoral teams to address GBV and harmful practices.”
The Spotlight Initiative is seen as necessary to help to eliminate child marriages, child abuse and GBV.
