2.6. PROTOCOL ON THE MULTI-SECTORAL MANAGEMENT OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE 2012 The Protocol on the Multi-Sectoral Management of Sexual Abuse and Violence in Zimbabwe (the “Protocol”) is a guidance tool for stakeholders that seek to refine and strengthen the holistic, effective and efficient service delivery for survivors of sexual violence and abuse. It sets out the minimum standards and key procedures for all relevant 2 stakeholders to provide survivor-centred services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The stated purpose of the Protocol is given as being threefold; 1. To safeguard the rights of survivors or sexual violence and abuse, guaranteeing that they receive a holistic package of age and gender sensitive, survivor centred services for their psycho-social well-being and protection by the welfare and justice system. 2. To provide a standard set of age and gender sensitive procedures that must be undertaken to ensure this holistic response to child and women survivors of sexual abuse. 3. To strengthen and clarify the roles and responsibilities between service providers and agencies that have statutory and thus obligatory responsibilities in the delivery of age and gender sensitive, survivor-centred services thereby enhancing their accountability and credibility. In considering the Case Studies below, it is important to interrogate whether the various actors in the system sought to safeguard the right of the survivors of sexual violence, whether they guaranteed that they received a holistic package of care that was age and gender sensitive, survivor centred and that guaranteed their well-being and protection. Finally, it is important to assess whether the actors acted in a way that promoted their accountability and credibility to the victims and their families. In doing this assessment, the voices of the victims and their families become the tools by which we interrogate the actions of service providers in the referral chain. 2.6.1. GUIDING PRINCIPLES These should guide and inform all responses by all actors under the protocol and include among others;  Best Interest –of the survivor shall be the paramount consideration in all decisions taken regarding the survivor.  Age and gender-sensitivity.  Disability- the Protocol provides that all survivors including those who are differently abled are entitled to all necessary support to enable their equitable access to all relevant services (medical, legal and social). Of particular importance given the need to provide care in particular the prevention of pregnancy and the prevention of HIV infection, are the guidelines regarding the time it should take for the various care providers to respond. Below are the various guidelines provided by the Protocol: 2 1. Case Reporting (within 48 hours if possible) 2. Medical attention (within 72 hours for HIV testing, Post exposure prophylaxis and emergency contraceptive) 3. Docket preparation by the police for court-( within 14 days) and Probation officers’ reports (within 3 days) 4. Pre-trial psychosocial support (within 7 days) 5. Trial- (within 3 days of receipt of docket from Police) and Post-trial support- psychosocial, rehabilitations and integration (on-going). See page 20 of the Protocol. 12 8