Break the Cycle :End Violence Against Women and Girls Now

By Hamu Madzedze

Online Health Editor-Zimbabwe

November 25, 2024, marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.

Despite progress made, a rising anti-rights movement threatens to undo the gains.

According to UN Women, nearly one in three women experience violence in their lifetime, with 736 million women subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both.

The Geneva Consensus Declaration, signed by over 30 countries, is seen as a regressive move that promotes anti-abortion and anti-gender equality ideologies, undermining progress made in addressing gender-based violence.

Human rights activists and organizations are calling for increased commitment and action from governments to safeguard the rights of women and girls and ensure that progress made is not rolled back.

"The right to abortion gives women the long-overdue entitlement to bodily self-determination and the possibility to decide whether and when to have children.

Lack of self-determination, caused by the loss of this fundamental right, increases women's vulnerability to violence.

"Unplanned pregnancies and childbirths decrease women's socio-economic status, making them more vulnerable to abuse," said Shobha Shukla, coordinator of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity and Rights) initiative.

Menka Goundan, Programme Director, ARROW (Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women), expressed concern over the rising anti-rights movement.

"When the PACT for the future was adopted at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024, alarmingly over 30 countries have adopted it which are also signatories to the regressive and anti-rights Geneva Consensus Declaration.

"Geneva Consensus Declaration is regressive and anti-abortion, and right-winged, because it allows governments to hide under the principle of 'sovereignty' and to release these countries from their obligation to enact sexual and reproductive rights for women."she said.

Kavutha Mutua, High Court of Kenya Advocate and Founder-Director of The Legal Caravan, noted that contradicting policies, like Geneva Consensus Declaration, go against what is provided in local laws.

"For example, Kenya, whose constitution provides for the right to access abortion services, has signed on to the regressive Geneva Consensus Declaration."said Mutua

Tushar Niroula, Executive Director, MSI (Marie Stopes International) Nepal, said, the Geneva Consensus Declaration is absolutely a conservative, authoritative, and repressive attempt against the choice of women for their reproductive rights as it promotes no right to abortion.

"Nepal has a very progressive safe abortion law, but the consequences of Geneva Consensus Declaration can pose a threat and have a negative impact,.

However he revealed that Nepal is not a signatory of Geneva Consensus Declaration.

Dr. Suchitra Dalvie of Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP) emphasized the urgent need for stakeholders to come up with strategies to mitigate the risks that could be posed by the regressive Geneva Consensus Declaration to whatever progress has been recorded on gender equality and human rights.

The 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence is an opportunity to revitalize commitments, call for accountability and action from decision-makers.

#The campaign tagline is NO EXCUSE. END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.