UN Experts Urge Zimbabwe to Prioritise Girls’ Rights for Equal Future
The United Nations Working Group on discrimination against women and girls has called on Zimbabwe to urgently invest in girls’ rights, education, and safety, warning that gender equality must become a lived reality rather than a constitutional aspiration.
Concluding its official visit to the country, the Working Group commended Zimbabwe’s constitutional commitment to gender equality and recent legislative measures, including the Marriages Act (2022), which sets 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage and criminalises child marriage.
However, the experts noted that no prosecutions have been made under the law and warned that entrenched patriarchal norms continue to limit opportunities for girls.
In Zimbabwe, 1.4 million women were married before the age of 18, with 241,000 marrying before 15. Teenage pregnancy remains high at 23%, while 43% of adolescents become sexually active before turning 18.
The experts said stigma, misinformation, and limited access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services often force pregnant girls out of school, undermining their independence.
The Working Group urged the Government to expand targeted interventions for marginalised girls, address discriminatory attitudes in families and communities, and ensure adequate resources for shelters and One-Stop Centres.
They also raised concern about child sexual abuse, gender-based violence, cyberbullying, and the impact of substance abuse on women’s safety.
While welcoming progress in reducing maternal mortality and introducing strategies on gender-based violence, the experts stressed the need for stronger enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and human rights education for both boys and girls.
“Gender equality is not a zero-sum goal—men and boys also stand to benefit significantly from a more just and equal society,” the Working Group said. “It must be more than a promise on paper—it must become a lived reality for every woman and girl in Zimbabwe.”
The Working Group will present its final report on the visit to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026.
