Recommendations:
UNHCR recommends that the Government of Zimbabwe:
a. Enhance efforts to prosecute trafficking offenses and define procedures for identifying
victims and implement a national action plan to combat trafficking;
b. Consider the possibility to accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child relating to sale of children, child prostitution and child
pornography;
c. Incorporate the principle of the best interests of the child in all laws, particularly
regarding criminal legislation, nationality and citizenship laws, as well as in the
practices and procedures of state institutions in discharging their duties; and
d. Take steps to address the residual impact of Operation Murambatsvina (2005) and the
Chingwizi resettlement/relocation in Masvingo Province (2014) on children,
including fulfilling the rights to shelter, education and social security for families that
are still affected.
Issue 4: Violence against women
Linked to 1st cycle UPR recommendations no. 93.39: “Strengthen protection mechanisms
against gender-based violence (Angola);” and 93.40: “Consolidate the mechanisms to protect
women against all forms of violence (Morocco);”
In 2007 the Government of Zimbabwe passed the Domestic Violence Act to allow maximum
protection for survivors of domestic violence, provide relief to survivors and long term
measures for the prevention of domestic violence.
The Zimbabwe Constitutional Court has ruled that, with effect from 20 January 2016, no
person, male or female may enter into any marriage, including an unregistered customary law
union or any other union including one arising out of religious rite, before attaining the age of
18 years. Section 78(1) of the Constitution sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage and
that any law to the contrary would be unconstitutional.
The 2012 Protocol on Multi Sectoral Management of Sexual abuse and Violence in
Zimbabwe was enacted to strengthen protection mechanisms for survivors in relation to
welfare and justice systems. The Victim Friendly system seeks to deliver comprehensive,
specialized psychosocial care and medical, legal and referral services to survivors of sexual
abuse through Victim Friendly Police Units (VFU), Courts and Clinics. However, it is
important to note that all units involved in the protection mechanisms for survivors of sexual
and gender-based (SGBV) have recently experienced an unprecedented loss of qualified and
experienced personnel to neighbouring countries and beyond, which has severely eroded the
capacity of public services.
Media reports indicate that the actual levels of occurrence of different types of SGBV cases is
high. However, only a few cases are reported. SGBV cases are often unreported, reported
late, or do not receive sufficient follow up from the existing systems and survivors to enable
successful prosecution of cases. The primary reasons for non-reporting identified includes
fear, especially pressure from family members and safety concerns when the abuser is a
husband or family member but also low confidence in the legal system and lack of
accountability of perpetrators.
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