ZIMBABWE Cricket has expanded their cause to beyond bat and battle to championing the well-being of the girl child and denouncing any forms of abuse against women.
This follows the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ZC and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA at the association's offices at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
The partnership with UNFPA aims to create synergies in creating awareness and calling out all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls. It also aims to promote sexual and reproductive health rights.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, ZC managing director Givemore Makoni said the role model portrayed by the female cricketers should help with the eradication of any forms of violence against women and girls.
"We are grateful to UNFPA and play our part not only in promoting the girl child to play better cricket on the field, but to also support awareness drives that help protect the girl child even off the field," said Makoni.
UNFPA representative Miranda Tabifor said that the engagement would not to leave behind the male cricket counterparts in their quest to promote gender equality and positive masculinity.
"Expanding partnerships for impact is at the centre of what we do as UNFPA. This partnership represents a shared commitment that supports our efforts to end GBV which is a huge problem in Zimbabwe," she said.
According to UNFPA statistics, GBV is a menace in the country affecting many women and girls. The report says that one in three women aged 15 to 49 has experienced physical violence and about one in four women has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.