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Community-based organizations advocating for girls and women’s rights have welcomed the new Freedom of Information bill. They stated that it promotes participation and accessibility of information to marginalized women and girls.
Speaking to Real-Time News Daily reporter, Mutoko based women and girls Community organization Better Life Foundation, programs assistant Ms. Hellen Chigombe said, “Most girls and women who live here are not aware of their rights. They don’t even know they have the right to know and participate in matters that affect their lives.”
Chigombe added that, “Information plays a very critical role in empowering rural women and girls who are always left out in important developmental processes. Therefore, the new bill is a welcome development that we believe will create opportunities for our women and girls living in remote and marginalized villages.”
Some women and girls do not know that they have right to health care and services hence they are mistreated by nurses.
With more equitable access to information, a number of women would be aware of and be able to protect their other rights to live free from violence, to make informed health decisions, and to advocate for the protection of their labour rights. Iformation can also help both to reduce violence and to empower women to act when their rights are violated.
Commenting positively on the same issue, Bulawayo based disability development consultant, Tsepang Nare, added that “for a long time, persons with disabilities have been deprived of their right to information”. He highlighted that since the onset of Covid 19, inaccessibility to information has been hightened further revealing the already existing challenges faced especially by the deaf and those with visual impairment.
“Time and again they have missed important information concerning their health and even on how to champion for their rights which is why girls and women continue to face double discrimination unabated.” He said.
The Freedom of Information Bill came into law replacing the unpopular Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). The new Act is meant to provide citizens and media practitioners access to information as is provided for by the Constitution, Section 62. The law ensures that any citizen or journalist can approach the public bodies with requests for information.
For poor and marginalized communities, information and communication if used effectively create a bond amongst people, communities, and nations.
Adding to that, Journalists come in as sources of verified sources. They also play a critical role in ensuring that the right and correct information is shared and bridge the gap by sharing information.
With support from the Fojo Media Institute, International Media Support (IMS), and funding from the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe, Tag a Life International Trust through its My Freedom of Information campaign is also targeting hard to reach places to ensure that information about the new Media and Information Bill is known by everyone.
The campaign was designed in an inclusive way. This is whereby people get the information in their comfortable languages through the ambassador Journalists selected from various provinces and diverse backgrounds.
