Open Call to Address Violence Against Women in Politics in Zimbabwe
UN Women is seeking applications to strengthen the institutional capacity of a civil society organization working in the area of increasing women’s political participation.
The grant is therefore expected to increase the resource and capacity of an eligible CSO to address Violence Against Women in Politics and there by advance the rights of women to participate in public and political life and enable them to become agents of transformative change towards an equitable society.
Among the many barriers to political participation faced by women, Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) constitutes a major obstacle to women’s participation in politics and hinders the realisation of women’s political rights and closing of the gender gap in politics. Both the threat and the reality of violence have a powerful negative effect on women’s participation as voters, candidates, election officials, media representatives, activists, and political party leaders. Zimbabwe’s political landscape is characterized by violence in all its forms, including sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological violence. VAWP is also used to deter female political aspirants who are perceived to be deviating from their stereotypical role to seek political positions.
Funding Information
The budget range for this proposal should be US$ 300,000.00 – 499,000.00 (Min. – Max.1)
Timeframe: The engagement sessions for media practitioners, CSOs, Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Women’s Parliamentary caucus on VAWP should commence after the Harmonized Elections of 2023 and be completed before end of March 2024.
Consequences
Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) can take place both online and offline and it manifests in different ways including:
Physical violence: e.g., assassinations, kidnappings, beatings, property damage.
Sexual violence: e.g., rape, sexual harassment, sexualized threats.
Psychological violence: e.g., threats, character assassination, denial of salary, stalking and online. Survivors of VAWP can be political office holders, women candidates and aspirants, political supporters, voters, election workers and observers, public officials, civil servants, media workers, human rights defenders, and family members of any of these individuals.
Social consequences: e.g., social exclusion, discrimination, rejection by family and community, and consequently further.g., sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, gynaecological problems, physical injuries and in some cases death.
Psychological consequences: e.g., non-pathological distress (such as fear, sadness, anger, self-blame, shame, sadness, or guilt), anxiety disorders (including posttraumatic stress disorder), depression, medically unexplained somatic complaints, and alcohol and other substance use disorders, as well as suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
Social consequences: e.g., social exclusion, discrimination, rejection by family and community, and consequently further poverty.
Broader political and institutional consequences: VAWP is a deterrent to women’s political participation and political rights and processes. It hampers political and electoral processes and institutions’ credibility and legitimacy, dissuading women to continue a political career, engage in political processes, and discourages young women to enter politics.
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