GCR and community leaders strengthen reporting and protection mechanisms against GBV
On 9 June 2026, GCR brought together 25 community leaders at its office in Chimoio to strengthen collaboration on the prevention, identification and referral of cases of gender-based violence.
On 9 June 2026, Girl Child Rights (GCR) held a meeting at its office in Chimoio with 25 community leaders from various neighbourhoods of the district. The session was facilitated by GCR’s Technical Director and was attended by the community leaders, the technical team and the organisation’s management.
Purpose of the meeting
The main purpose was to strengthen collaboration between GCR and community leaders in the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV). During the session, GCR presented its mission, its vision and its main areas of intervention, as well as the support and referral services it provides.
Participants discussed the role of community leaders as agents for the prevention, identification and referral of GBV cases. The session also made it possible to clarify the responsibilities of the community leaders, the GCR team and the mentors of the Tolerância Zero project, strengthening the coordination and response mechanisms that already exist.
Confidentiality as a condition for trust
The leaders shared their experience with GBV cases recorded in some communities and stressed the importance of confidentiality in handling reports. Protecting the identity of those who report, they highlighted, is essential to ensure trust, safety and the continuity of community collaboration.
Among the contributions, a community leader from Chimoio summed up the starting point of the work:
“There are people who do not understand what it is to be a woman. Just because he is a man, he treats the woman any way he likes. A woman must be treated with respect and dignity.” — Community leader, Chimoio
The leaders’ commitment
The leaders present expressed their full willingness to collaborate with GCR in identifying, reporting and referring cases.
The meeting confirmed the role of community leaders as an entry point for the prevention and reporting of GBV.
About the project
The mentors of the Tolerância Zero project work in the communities of Manica on GBV prevention and the engagement of men. The coordination with community leaders, defined at this meeting, links that prevention work to the referral and response mechanisms coordinated by GCR in Chimoio.
For protection reasons, we do not publish the names of the people we support or images that could identify them.
