GOVERNMENT, backed by the High Level Political Compact policy, says it has established safe spaces for gender-based violence (GBV) victims.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development minister Monica Mutsvangwa told NewsDay in an interview that a laboratory for forensic investigations has been established.
“One stop centres and safe shelters have been established across the country to provide essential GBV services to survivors and particularly the shelters provide temporary accommodation to women survivors of GBV,” she said.
“A forensic laboratory was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to enable generation of evidence and conducting of investigations on matters of sexual harassment.”
Mutsvangwa said her ministry was working towards establishing safe markets “to provide safe work spaces for women” across the country.
She said they also came up with legal frameworks for guidance when dealing with issues to do with sexual harassment.
“Some of the notable achievements include the sexual harassment policy, review of the Marriages Act and the women in leadership and decision making strategy among other policies,” Mutsvangwa said, adding that the interventions were meant to cater for both men and women victims of GBV.
Last year, at least 4 000 men reported cases of GBV amid indications that many were coming out of the closet to report abuse by their spouses.
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