3rd July 2025

The United Nations Working Group on discrimination against Women and Girls (WGDAWG) 

What’s included in the submission?

The United Nations Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls (WGDAWG) will visit Zimbabwe to understand issues related to discrimination against women and girls, including efforts made and remaining challenges in addressing discrimination against women and girls. Input from various stakeholders will be considered during the country visit.

 

It will be taken into account in the drafting process of the Working Group’s report for submission to the Human Rights Council in 2026. 

This joint submission reflects the contributions of Equality Now, Women and Law in Southern Africa, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, and the Centre for Human Rights.

Who’s it for?

  •  The United Nations Working Group on discrimination against Women and Girls (WGDAWG)

Key takeaways and recommendations

  • Ensure full and effective enforcement of laws, penalties and sanctions against child marriage, in conformity with national laws and regional frameworks, including the Maputo Protocol.
  • Take measures to sensitise the public about the provisions of the Marriage Act and strengthen the capacity of state actors and the designated marriage officers responsible for the implementation of this law.
  • Section 12 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act should be amended to cover children born in unregistered customary law unions and civil partnerships, and to compel men who would have been adjudged by the courts, implied through a court order (maintenance order) or determined by paternity tests to be fathers of the children, to register them.

Explore more resources

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Kazakhstan – Information for Consideration by Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at its Pre-Sessional Working Group in July 2025

In our submission, we detail concerns regarding laws related to sexual violence and child and forced marriage, as well as procedures and practices that effectively deny access to justice for women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence and child and forced marriage.

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa

Equality Now calls for stronger implementation of the Maputo Protocol, including lifting reservations, reforming discriminatory laws, ending FGM, and ensuring State accountability.

Intervention on the Activity Report of the Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa

Equality Now urges action to end gender discrimination in nationality laws and calls for the ratification of the AU Nationality Protocol.

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