Children in Zimbabwe often do not have all the basic needs that allow them to survive, learn, be protected. This impacts on their right to enjoy their childhood and transition into adulthood.
Save the Children’s Child Rights Governance (CRG) work aims to drive accountability by supporting the Zimbabwean government systems to respect, protect and fulfil children’s. In doing so, we strongly support child participation working with different child led structures to contribute to shaping legislation, policy implementation and enforcement in the realisation of their rights. We strengthen capacities of civil society organisations, coalitions, human rights institutions to engage with state institutions on child rights in various forms which include effective monitoring and reporting on child rights situation. These efforts are aimed at ensuring alignment to Zimbabwe’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and other treaties. To achieve CRG milestones in Zimbabwe, Save the Children is implementing initiatives guided by the three subthemes:-
Good Governance that Delivers Child Rights
Save the Children supports the Government of Zimbabwe in legislative and policy reform through the provision of evidence of emerging child right issues and technical capacity in the drafting of the respective legislative pieces. In the period of 2019 to 2025 SCI has contributed to the drafting of the Children’s Amendment Act, Data Protection Act and the Child Online Protection Policy.
In partnership with Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (MoJLPA), the programme supports Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) to meet the country’s reporting obligations on child rights instruments, namely United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Vountary National Review of the Sustainable Developmental Goals (VNR of SDGs), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) as well as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Further support is offered to enable for information dissemination to duty bearers on concluding observations and recommendations by the respective Expert Committees. Development of plans of action and implementation of these plans by respective duty bearers is supported. Technical support is being availed to Human Rights Commission in delivering on their mandate through the Child Rights technical working group. It is through the technical working group that monitoring of child rights can be effectively done.
Save the Children supports child friendly local governance working with local authorities to implement child centred local authority governance in areas which include Rushinga, Mvurwi, Matobo and Chipinge Local authorities. Save the Children supports both Junior Parliament and council structures through child centred social accountability in ensuring they contribute to decisions on ensuring access to quality essential services.
Monitoring and Demanding Child Rights with Children
Save the Children strengthens civil society to monitor child rights situation in Zimbabwe and develop supplementary reports on child rights instruments in partnership with Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC), the umbrella body of the child rights sector. Furthermore, coordinated advocacy by civil society for redress of child rights violations is supported through the partnership with ZNCWC which plays the coordination role of civil society.
Additionally, Save the Children supports children to hold states to account on the implementation of the SDGs through the development of the children’s report within the Voluntary National Review process. Save the Children has piloted the Children’s scorecard in 2024 and continues to support children in follow up of state commitments in attainment of the SDGs by 2030.
Save the Children holds the private sector in the implementation of Child Rights in Business Principles. Save the Children strengthens capacities of small-scale farmers and miners to incorporate the CRBP in their businesses while engaging their respective associations in monitoring implementation of such to curb child labour.
Public Investment in Children
Save the Children promotes child friendly budgeting with legacy investments having been made in structures like NANGO and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on prioritisation of child rights during budget allocations processes. Save the Children promotes meaningful participation of children in budget consultations.