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Heather Charema Mash West Correspondent
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development has partnered with Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) and various stakeholders in the construction of a Gender-Based Violent (GBV) shelter that will accommodate victims in Mashonaland West. Presenting on Standard Operating Procedures for Safe Homes for GBV survivors in Mashonaland West at a Victim Friendly Unit workshop in Chinhoyi recently, FACT district programmes officer Mr Clemence Jeche said the shelter accommodated 20 people and was still open for expansion.

“A GBV safe house for GBV survivors has been completed, it can accommodate 20 people for a start, but it can be expanded as soon as there is need,” he said. Mr Jeche said the safe house was meant to be an alternative shelter for survivors of violence as it protected them from further harm from the perpetrators, while they were getting support in preparing the legal processes.

“A safe house, in the context of GBV is a home that provides alternative shelter to survivors of violence,” he said.

“The intended purpose of a safe house is to keep the survivor from any further potential harm from the perpetrator, with an aim of supporting her in dealing with traumatic experience, as well as preparation for the legal process.”

Mr Jeche said the shelter offered case management services such as psycho-social and legal support, as well as follow up care and ensured access to justice.

“Good safe houses should provide economic or vocational empowerment to equip survivors with necessary skills to lead independent and dignified lives in future,” he said.

Mr Jeche called on prosecution authorities and Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs officials, as well as Victim Friendly Unit stakeholders to identify and recommend survivors for admission into the safe house because the shelter’s location was a secret.

“The shelter will remain our secret, so we call for all stakeholders to refer all the clients to FACT offices and not the shelter,” he said.

“In the absence of a toll-free line, all are welcome to use FACT landline when referring clients and it is the duty of our stakeholders to scrutinise the victims’ stories before referring them to us.”

Chinhoyi Municipality recently donated the land to build the shelter and FACT has received support from the Ministry of Women’s, Gender and Community Development, prosecution authorities and Ministry of Justice.

Chinhoyi Municipality, police, local authorities and traditional religious leaders in Mashonaland West are also rendering their support.