Story by Memory Chamisa
THE elimination of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the protection of women and girls remain key priorities for the government, with a research study on the costs of GBV set to be conducted this year.
Representatives from the World Bank, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and New York University recently met with the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, to discuss the scope and methodology of the study.
The research, which is expected to be completed in phases, will deliver its first draft report by June this year and will focus on the financial and societal costs of GBV, providing crucial data for government, civil society organisations, academia, and the private sector.
GBV carries direct costs such as medical treatment and legal expenses, indirect costs including lost productivity and a reduced GDP, and induced costs resulting from the secondary effects of violence. Additionally, GBV inflicts emotional and psychological trauma on victims, leading to a diminished quality of life.
“The report focuses on intimate partner violence as a subset of GBV and provides an updated estimate of the costs of gender-based and intimate partner violence in Zimbabwe,” UNFPA’s GBV response specialist, Mr Erin Gerber said.
Senator Mutsvangwa gave an appreciation on the partnership saying the data collected will assist in monitoring resources allocated towards ending GBV.
“Identifying the economic costs of gender-based violence contributes to better-informed decision-making and supports policy development. According to data from the UNFPA, the cost of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) is estimated to be between US$200 for rural women and US$400 for urban women with direct and multiplier costs at US$2 billion,” she said.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in partnership with the UNFPA is expected to host the GBV -Economy Symposium later this year, with the findings from this research expected to set the tone.
Reports by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank show that violence against women and girls is associated with lower economic activity, development and growth.
The findings also point to the relationship between poverty and GBV as it negatively impacts women who are disadvantaged economically, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence and poverty.
