Beatrice Savadye grew up in a poor mining community in northern Zimbabwe. She experienced gender violence at home: her father told her brother to beat her and her sisters up if they misbehaved. But she decided to take a stand and not accept the status quo. Seven years ago, she started a women's group for Zimbabweans called Roots Africa. It pushes for stronger laws to protect women trapped with abusers from a surge in violence and from HIV infections. She joins us as part of our special coverage to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Nigerian women have called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on Violence Against Women in the country. They said the murder of PDP Women Leader, Salome Abuh, in Lokoja, Kogi state brings to the fore, the dangers women face and experience in their day to day life.

A non-governmental organisation is advocating stiffer punishment for perpetrators of violence against women in the country.