Newsletter Zimbabwe Issue 9 • February - May 2014
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United Nations in Zimbabwe UnitedÊNationsÊ Newsletter Zimbabwe Issue 9 • February - May 2014 www.zw.one.un.org SPECIAL FOCUS Gender Equality IN THIS ISSUE The ninth edition of the United Nations in Zimbabwe newsletter is dedicated to PAGE 1 UN engagement in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment Advancing Women’s Rights Through initiatives in Zimbabwe. This newsletter also highlights issues related to Constitutional Provisions health, skills, and human trafficking. Finally, this newsletter covers updates PAGE 3 on the development of the new Zimbabwe United Nations Development A Joint UN UnitedÊNationsÊ Programme to Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) for 2016-2020, the UN’s partnership with Advance Women’s the Harare International Festival of Arts, and the Zimbabwe International Empowerment Trade Fair. PAGE 4 Refurbishing Maternity Waiting FEATURE ARTICLE: Homes to Enhance Zimbabwe Maternal Health Services Advancing Women’s Rights Through PAGE 5 “Not Yet Uhuru” in Realising Maternal Constitutional Provisions and Child Health Rights The new Constitution adopted Constitution provides the bedrock A special through a popular referendum in upon which systems and policies measure to PAGE 6 Promoting Gender 2013 was a major milestone in the can be built to enhance women’s increase women’s Equality Through history of Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans equal participation in all sectors of representation in Harnessing the Power from all walks of life participated society. Parliament, and of Radio in translating their individual and To mark this breakthrough for a provision for collective aspirations into a new achieving gender PAGE 7 women in the new Constitution, Empowering Women Supreme Law of the land. the national commemoration of balance in all and Youth With New public entities and Skills Women, both as individuals and the 2014 International Women’s as organized groups, actively Day was held under the theme, commissions are PAGE 8 participated in the constitution- “Celebrating Women’s Gains now part of the New Law in Place new Constitution. to Combat Human making process and, as such, through Constitutional Provisions”, Trafficking helped to shape a progressive new on 26 March 2014, in Harare. Other News Constitution. Most notably, the Continues on page 2 Click on the headline of each article for online information Women, both Officiating at the event, His Excellency “Women in parliament increased as individuals President Robert Mugabe said, “We must and as organized ensure that the girl child is treated in the from 18% to 35%” groups, actively same way as the boy child. Under the Equally important, the constitution participated in Presidential Scholarship, women from each establishes a Gender Commission to protect the constitution- and every province have gone to university and monitor women’s rights. Consequently, making process and it has come back with beautiful yields.” women representation in parliament and, contributed “We, as United Nations, are very pleased that increased from 18% to 35% – well above in shaping a the new Constitution contains strong gender the global average, which stands at 21%. progressive new equality and women’s rights provisions and a However, Zimbabwe still needs to take action Constitution. very progressive Bill of Rights with a specific to promote gender equality by ensuring 50- section on women rights”, said outgoing UN 50 representation at all levels. Resident Coordinator, Mr. Alain Noudehou. Going forward, the United Nations is The UN in Zimbabwe, through the supporting national initiatives to align all Constitution Parliamentary Select existing laws and policies to the provisions in Committee, and with the generous financial the new Constitution. This process will also contribution of 11 donors, has supported the allow Zimbabwe to ensure that international constitution making process and national and regional instruments signed and ratified, advocacy initiatives for women’s rights and such as the Convention on the Elimination gender equality. of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the SADC Gender and “UN supports national initiatives Development Protocol are domesticated. to align all existing laws to the new Although some of the recent gains are Constitution” encouraging, there is still long way to go in addressing gender based inequalities. In addition to the provisions in the new As a result of this collective effort, gender Constitution, the root causes of gender equality is now enshrined within the based inequalities, which manifest in income Founding Values of the Constitution, with inequality, employment opportunity, child special measures also introduced to reserve marriage, high maternal mortality, and adequate women’s representation in the HIV incidence and prevalence, need to be National House of Assembly. addressed holistically. 2 UN in Zimbabwe Newsletter Issue IX A Joint UN Programme to Advance Women’s Empowerment Four UN agencies, International Labour Organisation, UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund and UN Women launched the Joint Programme to Promote Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment on 27 February 2014 in Harare. It is implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development. The Joint Programme with a total budget of USD 10.6 million runs from 2014 to 2017. So far, half of the required fund, USD 5.3 million, has been generously provided by the Government of Sweden. The programme supports the promotion of women’s political participation, contributes to women’s economic empowerment, and advocates for national accountability on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The programme also contributes to the achievement of gender targets of the 2012- Sustainable development cannot be achieved (L-R) Mr. Kemal 2015 ZUNDAF which aim to promote women’s unless women’s rights are respected, their Mustafa, UN Women empowerment, gender equality and equity in voices heard and their skills counted.” Officer in Charge; support of Zimbabwe’s national development Honourable Oppah goals. “UN promotes equal participation of Muchinguri, Minister men & women in economic, political and of Women Affairs, Officially launching the Joint Programme, social spheres” Gender and Community Honourable Oppah Muchinguri, Minister of Development, and His Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Excellency Lars Ronnås, “This programme will significantly contribute to Development, explained that this programme Ambassador of Sweden strengthening joint efforts in gender equality. “is very significant as it brings together to Zimbabwe. By working together through the 2012-2015 UN agencies, Development Partners and a ZUNDAF, we will continue to support the number of different gender equality advocates Government of Zimbabwe in its efforts to build to support the Government of Zimbabwe in a just and fair society, with equity and better attaining national gender development goals.” standards of living for all,” said the UN Women Officer in Charge, Mr. Kemal Mustafa. “Additional USD 5.3 million required to fully implement the Joint The UN in Zimbabwe, through the 2012-2015 Programme” ZUNDAF, in collaboration with Development Partners has so far supported the development of National Gender Policy, advocacy to Speaking at the launch, His Excellency, Lars ensure women’s rights through supporting Ronnås, Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe the enactment of the Domestic Violence said, “Sweden has a long history of promoting Act, setting up of the anti-domestic violence gender equality in our own country and council, the adoption of the National Gender globally. Equal rights and opportunities Based Violence strategy, and the development between women and men are what we all of strong gender equality and women’s rights should work for in each and every society. provisions in the new Constitution. Issue IX UN in Zimbabwe Newsletter 3 Refurbishing Maternity Waiting Homes to Enhance Maternal Health Services Maternity Waiting Homes provide pregnant women with information on pregnancy, new born care, family planning services and HIV treatment, prevention and counnselling services. As part of the ongoing collective efforts to stem treatment, prevention and counselling services. the high maternal mortality rate in the country, Through funding of USD 13 million from the which stands at 525 deaths per 100,000 live European Union (EU), the births (2012 Zimbabwe United Nations and the Census), the United Nations Ministry of Health and Child in Zimbabwe is supporting the “Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality Care have been renovating refurbishment of maternity is high at 525 deaths per 100,000 and refurbishing 105 waiting homes. live births” maternity waiting homes at The maternity waiting district, mission and rural homes are facilities, within hospitals. easy reach of a hospital or health centre where The programme has also procured 63 US34 DOLLARS pregnant women can stay towards the end of ambulances, which have since been distributed pregnancy and await labour. Once labour starts, to benefiting hospitals across the country. The Zimbabwe’s expecting mothers are transferred to the nearby EU supported programme also seeks to train National health facility or hospital so that labour and child 800 service providers in emergency obstetric Health Strategy birth are assisted by a skilled birth attendant. recommended per care, neonatal care and community mobilisation capita allocation and awareness building. Additionally, two UN to health. Actual “800 service providers to be trained