Self Defense a critical skill for fighting GBV
Gender-based violence has been rampant over the years and this has accumulated to a lot of casualties, most of which could be avoided. In a bid to mitigate such cases and instil a sense of confidence and self-protection for women, Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) conducted two self-defence masterclasses that were held on the 28th of November and the 5th of December at Island Hospice and Health Care.
The two-weekend sessions were attended by a total of 43 women from across Bulawayo and a trainer facilitated classes on how women can defend themselves against sexual assault or any form of physical abuse when faced with one.
The masterclass not only gave women physical strategies to defend themselves but also gave social skills they can use for prevention against physical or sexual assault like the need for using logic, calm and psychology.
Member of Parliament for Pumula Constituency, Honourable Sichelesile Mahlangu applauded lessons of this nature as they enabled women to learn about self-defence.
Bulawayo Ward 17 Councilor, Sikhululekile Moyo who was also part of the defence class addressed participants highlighting the need for them to speak up against any form of gender-based violence and not be silenced.
“Women should speak up against any form of gender-based violence and women should stand which each other to address the gender-based violence pandemic,” said Moyo.
A lot of women concurred with this notion highlighting the need for women to do away with reinforcing stigma towards victims of abuse.
The Executive Director and Founder at Women Association of Survivors, Kudakwashe Kunzekweguta spoke at length on the forms of violence that each and every woman should pay attention to particularly in relationships. Women are usually trapped by the fear of not being in a relationship, hence the continued need to stay with those who abuse them.
Some women are now accustomed to sticking to an abusive partner instead of seeking for assistance that can contribute towards the elimination of GBV. Kudakwashe Kunzekweguta urged women to be confident when reporting GBV and to always seek for Counselling services as that helps them recover from the psychological effects of abuse.
Most women who were in attendance expressed appreciation for the self-defence master classes which they said gave them the much-needed skill to survive in some hostile environments.