Zimbabwe Gender Commission 16 Days PRESS STATEMENT 2025
Theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) joins the nation and the global community in commemorating the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, held under the international theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.” This year’s theme is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to confront the rising threat of online abuse, harassment, cyberbullying, and coercive control—forms of violence that increasingly mirror and intensify the offline experiences of women and girls.
This year’s commemorations come at a significant moment for the Commission as we celebrate 10 years of advancing gender equality, promoting women’s rights, and protecting all citizens from gender-based violations. As part of its mandate and strategic thrust for the next decade, the Commission is prioritising online and technology-facilitated violence as a key area of focus, recognising its rapid escalation and the far reaching harm it causes to survivors, communities, and democratic participation.
The Commission has noted with deep concern the increasing cases of online violence, with a large proportion of these violations targeting women and girls, including public figures, young women, professionals, students, activists, and ordinary community members. These attacks range from cyber harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, misogynistic trolling, impersonation, cyberstalking, body shaming, extortion and coordinated digital attacks. The Commission takes these violations very seriously, as they not only infringe on individual rights and dignity but also silence women’s voices, restrict their participation in public life, and perpetuate harmful gender inequalities.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe, particularly Sections 51, 52, 56, 61, and 80, guarantees every person’s inherent dignity, personal security, equality, freedom of expression, and the collective right of women to be protected from all forms of violence. Digital violence is a direct violation of these rights, and the Commission reiterates that constitutional protection apply both offline and online. Furthermore, the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act criminalises acts such as cyberbullying, cyber harassment, unlawful data collection, revenge pornography, impersonation, and digital threats providing important legal mechanisms to safeguard women and girls in digital spaces.
As the nation marks the 16 Days of Activism, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission calls for strengthened collective action to ensure safer online environments for all. The Commission urges the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to enhance cybercrime investigation capacities, improve multi-stakeholder coordination, and accelerate the development of specialised digital evidence systems. We further call on the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and internet service providers to adopt robust reporting mechanisms and ensure platforms have responsive safeguards against digital abuse. Government ministries and public institutions must mainstream online safety into gender and ICT policies, while schools and universities should intensify digital literacy and safety education for young people. Civil society organisations are encouraged to scale up awareness, survivor support, and community outreach, while media houses and content creators should promote ethical, gender-sensitive online engagement.
The Commission also calls upon every citizen to use digital platforms responsibly and to be aware of the various laws that govern online conduct. Online spaces must never be used as tools of intimidation, character assassination, exploitation, or harm. Every Zimbabwean has a role in cultivating a digital culture grounded in respect, empathy, safety, and accountability.
As we commemorate these 16 Days, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission reaffirms its commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls in all spheres physical and digital and to ensuring that Zimbabwe moves toward a future where technology empowers rather than harms. Ending digital violence is not only possible; it is a necessary step toward achieving a just, inclusive, and gender-equal society.
Download link: ZGC PRESS STATEMENT 16 days 2025
For Gender Equality
For media inquiries and further information, please contact For more information, contact Chief Executive Officer Virginia Muwanigwa 0712899543/ 0772327955
