The mobilisation of feminist movements is more important for change and the attainment of gender justice than the wealth of nations, leftwing political parties, or the number of women politicians. Strong, autonomous feminist movements will articulate better issues of violence against women, and are key catalysts for Government action while the other entities tend to sideline matters perceived as only important to women.

These are the findings and overall conclusions of a new study published by Cambridge University on violence against women conducted over four decades in 70 countries. Although the study focused primarily on VAW, its findings are also significant in cutting across other spectrums of women's rights.

While some have the misplaced conception of feminism as some kind of man-hating and whiny liberal Martian, the simple truth is that feminist movements are unpopular for demanding equality and an end to patriarchal sexism.

However, what is key about the above finding is that for many people, it seems very obvious. Of course, feminists and other like-minded social movements will be and currently are the ones fighting battles for gender parity across the world.

But why this is an important fact to state and emphasise is because, other strategies have been tried and tested to achieve the same; ranging from engagement of political parties to seeking to increase the number of women politicians. The research simply highlights that none of these strategies will actually be more effective than the efforts of feminist social movements in attaining gender parity and eventually reducing violence against women.

In Zimbabwe for instance, we have and are still trying to get more women into key leadership positions. After all, women constitute a 52 percent majority and this should equally reflect in the leadership. But we remain cognisant of one Barbara Ehrenreich's famous words that "a uterus is not a substitute for a conscience", and "giving women positions of power won't change society by itself".

There are no illusions that the presence of more women in positions of power will necessarily translate into pro-women development, and a fact of life is that politicians will stand guided by temporary interests and narrow political party obligations. This is why social movements in civil society are a key conscience of society with permanent interests.

Ultimately, a unified women's movement will emerge as the key driver of change where women's rights are concerned. The latter remains largely unencumbered by broader political concerns or petty individual interests, and is driven more by the desire to articulate and organise around the top priorities of women.

For Zimbabwean women, most of the rights they enjoy today have been as a result of sustained activism. The Domestic Violence Act of 2006 for example was passed after significant amounts of pressure by women's groups.

Recently, Zimbabweans woke up to overzealous police brutality with unwarranted and arbitrary arrests of women in bars, night-clubs and other public places at night. It emerged that the police were of the opinion that respectable women are not to be found in nightclubs, restaurants and bars after 8pm. They also had a prescribed "correct" dressing commensurate with this image of decent women.

It was up to the women's movement to fight the apparent discrimination and stereotyping, and they successfully pulled off a sitting protest in July this year. Realisation of women's rights in Zimbabwe is a constant battle, particularly made more painful by having to keep stating the obvious that women are adults with rights to self-determination and free bodily integrity and autonomy.

These are daily realities for women; having to contend with sometimes archaic thinking that views and treats adult women like children; a society with some sections that condone forced wife inheritance, forced marriages of young girls and virginity testing under the banner of culture.

The women's movement has a lot to do, particularly if we are still haggling over the most elementary aspects of the need to uphold the very human rights of women.

Recently the women's movement was applauded for its unity of purpose and coalescing around key national processes where women's rights and interests are at stake. This was evident ahead of the Second All-Stakeholders Constitutional Conference when the Women's Coalition embarked on a day-long protest siege outside Copac offices, demanding equal participation of civil society women in the constitution making process.

The Women's Coalition is a network of 75 women's organisations and independent members engaging in collective activism on issues affecting women and girls in Zimbabwe.

Recognising that women despite being the numerical majority continue to be marginalised from key national processes that ought to include them, the Women's Coalition has determined that nothing will deter the women of this country from making meaningful contribution into the Constitution.

They have tirelessly engaged all key stakeholders in the continued struggle towards engendering the Constitution, on the strength that since women constitute the majority of the population, any process deemed people driven should actually be largely "women driven". Ultimately women will unleash their greatest weapon when the power of numbers prevails.

In his address on the occasion of the official opening of the Fifth Session of the Seventh Parliament last week, President Mugabe highlighted the need for a review of the country's 2000 National Gender Policy to be more responsive to the new realities confronting women in particular.

He also acknowledged that this is necessitated by the need to keep up momentum and align with shifting international and regional protocols, best practices and commitments such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

It is important to note that it has been largely due to feminist movements mobilising across countries, that governments have been urged to approve global and regional commitments and agreements that ensure the rights and empowerment of women. Feminist movements have been the ones on the frontlines, raising awareness and cultivating the critical consciousness around issues of violence against women and gender equality. No one else can best fight these battles.

As the world gears towards the usual commemorations for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, cases of violence in Zimbabwe are reportedly on the increase. The 16 days are a symbolic campaign indicating that violence against women is a human rights violation.

CEDAW defines gender based violence as any acts by society to inflict physical, sexual or psychological harm on women because of their expected specific gender roles. There is recognition of the fact that women are not only victims of such violence, they can also convey it on other women. However, the women's movement will lead the fight to eliminate this scourge by creating spaces for women organise, build links and speak for themselves.

Natasha Msonza is a Communication Strategist and Information Officer at the Zimbabwe Women's Resource Centre &Network. Feedback on telephone 252388/90 or email: natasha@zwrcn.org.zw.