As Zimbabwe commemorates International Women’s Day 2026 under the global theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the Zimbabwe Gender Commission reaffirms its constitutional mandate to Monitor Promote and Protect gender equality. The Commission also serves to ensure that the rights of women and girls are fully realised. The Government of Zimbabwe has made significant strides in advancing women’s rights through a strong constitutional and legislative framework that guarantees equality before the law, protection from discrimination, harmful cultural practices, violence, and exploitation, while promoting equal participation in political, social, and economic life.
To give effect to these commitments, Government has enacted progressive laws addressing domestic violence, sexual offences, workplace discrimination, human trafficking, and child marriage, among others. In addition, as technology advances and digital spaces become central to modern life, Zimbabwe has also strengthened legal protections against cybercrime, online harassment, and digital abuse to ensure that women and girls are protected both offline and online.
Since the establishment of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission in 2015 the Commission has played a key role in advancing gender equality through research, legal reform advocacy, and access to justice initiatives. Its 2022 National Inquiry into Child Marriages and Sexual Exploitation of Girls contributed to landmark legal reforms, while the Commission has also handled over 11,000 gender-related complaints, established a confidential call centre, and reached thousands in remote communities through mobile one-stop service centres. It has further promoted women’s leadership through programmes such as Women Rise in Politics and issued advisories to promote gender-balanced representation in public institutions.
While progress has been made, this year’s International Women’s Day reminds us that the work continues, and the Commission calls upon Government ministries, civil society, development partners, and communities to work collectively to advance and safeguard the rights of every woman and girl in Zimbabwe.
For Gender Equality,
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