Ever-changing challenges
For decades Zimbabwe has faced political and economic instability that has impacted the lives of women and girls. Despite laws to prevent violence against women and girls, failure to implement these laws through service provisions, adequate law enforcement and routes to justice, means violence against women remains high.
Child marriage is prevalent in Zimbabwe with one of the highest rates in the world. In line with the political turbulence there is also a high rate of state sponsored violence that women face. There has also been a surge in violence and harassment of women running for political office, causing a number of candidates to drop out, negatively impacting women’s ability to participate in politics.
Pushing for change in the face of backlash
Women’s movements in Zimbabwe have been at the forefront of change for over eight decades, despite the constant and growing challenges they face. Collective action among women’s movements remains strong and resistant, even when facing growing government clamp downs, violence and arbitrary arrests. Through the relentless work of women’s movements the government signed a new constitution in 2013 which enshrined women’s equal rights politically, economically and socially.
Working with our partners in Zimbabwe
Together with our partners we continue to push for women’s rights to be realised. We work with partners to ensure that laws created match up to the constitution and promote the rights of women and girls. As with all of our focus countries we work with women who are most discriminated against such as lesbian, bisexual and trans (LBT) women and women with disabilities, young women, women in prison and indigenous women who face significant stigma and shame from society.
The conditions for women’s movements in Zimbabwe are increasingly more difficult. We are determined to work with partners to ensure the movement is strong and resilient championing the rights of all women and girls.
