HARARE - Harare-based arts organisation Pamberi Trust has presented the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign since 2008, providing a platform through its gender project Flame to join the protest against gender-based violence through music, poetry, spoken-word, fashion, visual and performance art.

In the following weeks, an exciting 16- day programme will roll out at Book Cafe with music, poetry, discussions, workshops and film screenings.

The Book Café programme began on November 24, with a multi-disciplinary explosion of expression through music, poetry, spoken word, visual arts, film, fashion, discussions, workshops and information — for life.
 
The 16-day programme ends on December 8 with special appearances by acclaimed hip-hop artiste Aku Naru (USA) and the Zimbabwe-Mozambique-Norway-Sweden collaboration Monoswezi featuring Zimbabwe’s own mbira princess Hope Masike.

Domestic violence is a sensitive, harrowing community issue that affects one in three women in Zimbabwe.
It is a crime, and although legislation has been enacted to try and prevent it, many women find themselves in a position where they are vulnerable to physical, psychological, sexual and emotional abuse.
 
Statistics show that despite active campaigns from women’s groups, government ministries and NGOs, domestic violence continues to be a major problem in Zimbabwe.

From January to May 2012, a total of 3 141 domestic violence cases were reported to police. This excludes all those victims too scared to make an official report and instead bear their wounds in silence.
 
Musasa Project, who have helped so many victims, state that 454 cases of domestic violence were recorded in Harare in the month of August 2012 alone.

 Most shockingly, 60 percent of the murder cases brought before the High Court are a direct result of domestic violence.

These alarming statistics show that women are particularly vulnerable to physical attacks from their husbands or sex-partners.

The 16-day campaign highlights this too-often taboo issue, and promotes events to increase awareness of violence which affects everyone in society. - Own Correspondent