Zimpapers Logo

Youth Interactive Writer

Zimbabwe recently joined the rest of the word in marking 16 days of action against Gender Based Violence (GBV) and it is heartening to note that a number of organizations including corporates partook in this noble initiative.

As various development players and activists posit, the shift should now be from the 16 days to 365 days of action and organisations like Padare Enkundleni Men’s Forum on Gender have pushed for engagement of boys and men in fighting GBV, as they are largely considered the perpetrators of this scourge.

Padare Enkundleni Men’s Forum on Gender Programmes Development and Fundraising manager Thando Makubaza told The Youth Interactive section that engaging young boys in the fight against GBV is a noble and strategic undertaking as it helps in raising enlightened men who regard women as equals with rights.

“Men should be partners in the fight against GBV.

“Making men part of this end GBV crusade is a strategic and noble undertaking because once men appreciate the importance of gender justice and upholding the rights of women, it means we are on the right path to equality and gender parity.

“For Padare, the engagement of young boys and their education on the rights of women is something that we have infused in our programming so that we catch them young and raise them with the requisite awareness on what works best for a gender just society,” Makubaza said.

Makubaza saids that times have changed and it’s no longer about the safety of girls only but boys also as the perpetrator of today does not bother about whether it’s boy or girl but just a child.

“Inclusion of the boy child in both advocacy against GBV and awareness on its existence and downside has been necessitated to the extent Padare is also seriously engaging boys and young men on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Almost everyday, a story of an abused boy or young man is reported and perpetrators go scot free.

Boys and young men have a lot suffered sexual harassment even from people they know,” Makubaza said.

Makubaza said Padare is seriously engaging young men and boys so that they become awake to the realities around them and also to understand who they are at a tender age.

“Boys need to understand that women and girls are not there for them to do as they please.

“They need to know and appreciate women and girls as human beings first then women.

“Respect needs to be cultivated from a tender age and boys are no exception

As boys grow they need to be faced with realities of the world and also the fact that being violent does not make you a better person but a monster,” Makubaza said.