UN Experts Urge Zimbabwe to Tackle Child Marriage, Boost Girls’ Rights and Safety

The Working Group praised initiatives such as the Marriages Act (2022), which sets 18 as the legal minimum age for marriage and criminalises child marriage.

The UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls has urged Zimbabwe to urgently scale up investment in girls’ rights, education, and safety to ensure that gender equality becomes a tangible reality for future generations. Concluding an official visit to the country, the experts welcomed Zimbabwe’s constitutional commitment to gender equality and recent legislative steps, but warned that entrenched patriarchal norms continue to limit opportunities for women and girls.

“Gender equality is not a choice, it is a constitutional obligation,” the experts said. “Zimbabwe must actively confront and eradicate patriarchal attitudes that undervalue girls, creating a society which nurtures their potential as future leaders, innovators and changemakers.”

Persistent Challenges Despite Progress

The Working Group praised initiatives such as the Marriages Act (2022), which sets 18 as the legal minimum age for marriage and criminalises child marriage. However, they expressed deep concern that no prosecutions have yet been made under the law, despite the scale of the problem.

Statistics remain alarming:

• 1.4 million women in Zimbabwe were married before age 18.

• 241,000 women married before age 15.

• Teenage pregnancy rate stands at 23%.

• 43% of adolescents become sexually active before 18.

The experts warned that when girls seek sexual and reproductive health services, they often face stigma, misinformation about parental consent, and limited access to youth-friendly care. Many pregnant adolescents are forced to leave school, severely impacting their future independence and wellbeing.

Calls for Targeted Interventions

The UN experts urged the government to expand and resource targeted programs for girls from low-income and rural backgrounds, those who are pregnant, married, or otherwise marginalised. They stressed the need to challenge discriminatory family and community attitudes that undervalue girls’ education.

They also acknowledged progress in reducing maternal mortality and implementing national strategies on gender-based violence (GBV), including improved access to reproductive health services and legal aid. However, child sexual abuse remains a serious issue, particularly for:

• Girls left behind by migrant worker parents.

• Unaccompanied minors.

• Girls with disabilities.

• Orphaned girls.

• Girls belonging to religious sects.

Rising Risks and Violence

The Working Group reported that in some provinces, GBV risks are exacerbated by a growing drug and substance abuse crisis among young men. They called on the government to:

• Increase anti-GBV awareness campaigns.

• Train law enforcement and judiciary on victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches.

• Ensure timely prosecutions of GBV cases.

They also highlighted the increasing online harassment of women and girls, including cyberbullying, revenge pornography, victim-blaming, and gendered disinformation, despite legal protections.

Strengthening Support Services

The experts called for adequate resourcing of shelters and One-Stop Centres, describing them as core State responsibilities. They also recommended promoting public awareness campaigns and integrating human rights education into schools for both boys and girls, grounded in the values of equality, dignity, and autonomy.

“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.

Next Steps

The UN Working Group will present its final report on the visit to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026, outlining detailed recommendations for Zimbabwe to close gender gaps, combat child marriage, and protect the rights of women and girls.