TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT ON FEMICIDE CASES IN ZIMBABWE
Consultancy, Research Jobs
- Expires 28 Sep 2023
- Harare
- Full Time
Job Description
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT ON FEMICIDE CASES IN ZIMBABWE
Background
Femicide has become an epidemic that threatens more than half of the total population (52% population is women). Femicide discourse is not visible in the criminal justice system (possibly a denial in using the concept). The statistics from the police and courts are staggering due to institutional and practical barriers. Research evidence shows that legal and procedural practice do not aggregate data, separating homicide from femicide, making it challenging to interpret incremental trends of the murder of women meaningfully. The absence of disaggregated data on forms and nature of femicide has undermined efforts to understand the geographic spread and magnitude of the murder of women. Research findings reveal that women in Zimbabwe are subjected to entrenched patriarchal and intimate partner femicides due to their subordinate position within the home. In equal measure, they all suffer from political and stranger femicides – killings that are random or targeted and often include sexual violence.
Femicide manifested as intimate partner violence leading to the murder of 3 women in a raw. One scary case was when an estranged wife was stabbed 34 times by her partner leading to death. https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/estranged-wife-stabbed-34-times-killer-hubby-on-the-run/ The partner who is still on the run and another recent case of a young lady 28 who left home for a job interview and never returned home ,was reported as missing person ,her body was discovered in a state of decomposition ,Investigations allege that she was killed by boy(19) who lives in the streets .
Existing Research findings show that intimate partner and stranger violence are strongly associated with femicide in Zimbabwe, and their prevalence is continuing unabated. Of the recorded incidences, 43.47% were killed by an intimate partner, 26.53% were murdered by strangers or unknown partners, 24.29% were murdered by family members, and 5.71% died from political violence. These are accounted for by a culture of machismo that fosters norms that facilitate misogynist tendencies among Zimbabwean men. The fatality distribution by province shows that the mining area of Midlands has the highest prevalence (15.78%), followed by the border area of Matebeleland South (12,79%), and then the populous capital city Harare (10.75%). The least murder rates have occurred in a small province like Masvingo (6.05%) and Mashonaland East (6.87%).
Justification
Feminist action research is critical, which seeks to explain the different layers of femicide and the multiplicity of systems that produce it, including power relations, politics, the proliferation of firearms, and socioeconomic status. Zimbabwe is currently reviewing its national gender policy , GBV strategy amongst other key GBV response frameworks there is opportunity to lobby for collective strategies related to addressing ;understanding , documenting ; reporting and inclusion of femicide as part of vital statistics.
This would challenge the need to for vital statistics and strategies so as not to reduce femicide to homicide since different women suffer interconnecting forms of gendered killing. The enduring questions guiding this analysis are: What would femicide in Zimbabwe consist of? What are the gaps, and what examples are there as the potential for interventions? The research will also draw lessons from countries in Southern Africa such as South Africa which is the only Southern African country establishing a femicide watch dashboard.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives:
• Identify and analyse several major femicide cases in various districts with a view to highlighting the extent of the problem
• Review the legal framework and highlight gaps and comparison with other jurisdictions how the handle femicide cases and statistics.
• Proffer recommendations for various actors
1. Scope of the activity
• Collect case studies from media reports, GBV services providers and actors
• Conduct focus group discussions and key informants
• Produce a detailed report of International /Regional Standard with annexure of presentations, list of participants, pictures and clear recommendations and present findings in a 1 day participatory training of VFU Stakeholders. This will be disseminated to stakeholders for publicity .
2. Required skills and experience
This assignment is open for individuals or teams.
Duration of the assignment
The duration of the assignment is 20 days from the 20th of September to the 1st of December 2023.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
• A degree/ Advanced degree in Social Studies
Experience:
• Five (5) years relevant professional experience in Women’s Rights
• Experience in GBV, Research
• Knowledge and understanding of gender equality context in Zimbabwe
• Experience in working with government will be an added advantage.
How to Apply
Interested parties are to send their 3 paged Expression of interest and indicative budget and CV to email: procurement315@gmail.com
