27th mayo 2025

Imperative legal, policy and institutional reforms for enhanced support and protection of child marriage victims and survivors

Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), with support from Equality Now, conducted a focused study on child marriage in Zimbabwe, using Epworth as a case study. The research examined the country’s laws, policies, action plans, and other mechanisms meant to protect and support victims and survivors of child marriage.

What’s inside the report?

  • Policy and legal gaps in supporting child marriage survivors
  • Review of the National Action Plan and Communication Strategy on Ending Child Marriages (NAP on ECM)
  • Analysis of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS-1)
  • Insights on the Education Policy and Education Act

Who’s it for?

  • Lawyers
  • Judicial and law enforcement officers
  • Law and policymakers
  • Academics and researchers in law
  • Civil society

Key takeaways

The study aimed to assess how effective these measures are and identify where gaps remain.

This comprehensive survey highlights key challenges faced by survivors of child marriage, especially around the implementation of protective laws and policies. It also evaluates how Zimbabwe’s frameworks align with regional and international standards on support and protection.

The findings point to the need for stronger institutional, legal, and policy responses. The study offers actionable recommendations targeting policymakers and other key stakeholders, including:

  • Fast-track implementation of all pending regulations to fully operationalize the amended Education Act.
  • Develop a comprehensive national education policy that explicitly protects the rights of all children, including those impacted by child marriage, ensuring their full access to education.

Explore more resources

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Sonora, Mexico: Recommendations to reform the Penal Code on consent

A legal brief with recommendations to reform the Penal Code in Sonora, Mexico, aligning it with international standards on consent and strengthening protection for girls and adolescents.

Strengthening legal safeguards to end child marriage in Lebanon

Equality Now’s policy brief on child marriage in Lebanon highlights legal fragmentation, reform barriers and recommendations to establish a unified minimum age of marriage and strengthen protections for girls.

Advancing legal protection against child marriage in Jordan

This policy brief outlines current legal gaps, emerging trends, and opportunities for reform to strengthen child protection systems and ensure alignment with international human rights obligations.

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