By TellZim Reporter
Hivos in Southern Africa recently conducted a training workshop to equip women and youth from across Zimbabwe with advocacy skills to enhance their confidence and ability to claim their rights.
The workshop, held at a hotel in Harare, was part of the S(H)E Matters project, implemented by Hivos with support from the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria.
It focused on providing participants with practical advocacy tools to engage policymakers and other authorities in advancing their rights.
Hivos Project Officer Rumbidzayi Machimbirike said one of the major issues raised during the training was the prevalence of sexual harassment, particularly among women in the media and farm work sectors.
“One of the key challenges that emerged was sexual harassment faced by women in the media industry and among farm workers. This training was designed to equip rights holders with the tools, strategies, and techniques needed to advocate effectively for their rights,” Machimbirike said.
She added that the training introduced participants to national laws, as well as regional and international human rights instruments, that can be leveraged for advocacy.
“The program aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge of frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping align local advocacy efforts with global standards,” she said.
Abigirl Khupe, a participant from the CITE Youth Network, said the training was critical for young women in the media industry, where sexual harassment often goes unreported.
“As women in media, we’ve observed numerous unreported cases of sexual harassment. Many victims fear retaliation and lack access to clear reporting mechanisms and accountability structures.
“Following this training, CITE is now empowering young women to understand what constitutes sexual harassment, how to identify it, and the proper channels for reporting it as part of our advocacy work,” Khupe said.
