Love Shouldn’t Hurt Celebrities And Influencers Applauded for Using Their Voices to Fight Against Intimate Partner Violence

On March 24th, 2023, the Embassy of Sweden in Harare, PSI and implementing partner Population Solutions for Health (PSH) recognized several celebrities and influencers for their efforts in supporting the Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign, which seeks to combat intimate partner violence.

The awards ceremony took place at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Harare. The event aimed to acknowledge and appreciate those who helped make the campaign a resounding success.

During the event, Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Åsa Pehrson praised the campaign’s brand ambassadors, who used their expertise and influence to engage men in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV). These ambassadors were able to create a movement of men and women who reject GBV through music, drama skits, and other forms of media.

Love Shouldn’t Hurt Celebrities And Influencers Applauded for Using Their Voices to Fight Against Intimate Partner Violence

“These ambassadors in their diversity, have leveraged their expertise and influence, to engage men in a way that encourages them to stop, listen and act against GBV. They successfully managed to create a movement of men and women who shun GBV through their music, and drama skits on digital media, in church, on the soccer field, and on radio,” she said in her speech.

Celebrities who received awards at the event included Madlela Skhobokhobo, Sandra Ndebele, Babongile Sibanda, Hwabaraty, Lorraine Guyo, Babongile Skhonjwa, Holy 10, Freeman, Winky D, Apostle Pride Sibiya, Rev. Josias Mudenda, Ammara Brown, Sabhuku Vharazipi, Slick Pastor, Nqobizitha Masuku, Lionel Mkandla, Edward Sadomba, and Gabriel Mbale.

While acknowledging the impact of the Love Shouldn’t Hurt campaign, Ambassador Pehrson emphasized that there is still much work to be done to end GBV. She called for continued public discussion of the issue, as well as engagement with men and efforts to appeal to the hearts of perpetrators of violence.

Nonetheless, she expressed hope that the campaign will continue to contribute to creating an environment where women and girls feel free, safe, and protected from GBV, because love should not hurt.

Welcome To Oudney Patsika's Blog: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World: In today’s media-driven, distracted culture, your message must be amplified to reach a larger audience.

Contact Us through the Chat with WhatsApp widget below.