BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Now is the time to listen to children in order to understand what their lives are like and how their rights are present, missing or pursued every day, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has said.
The ZHRC reported this in a statement as they joined the rest of the world in commemorating, World Children’s Day (WCD), which observed annually on 20th November.
WCD celebrates the anniversaries of the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. “The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF’s) theme for the 2025 WCD celebrations is; “Listen to the Future. Stand up for Children’s Rights.”
“The theme reminds us that it’s time to listen to children in order to understand what their lives are like and how their rights are present, missing or pursued every day.
“The rights to participate and to be heard are core principles of children’s rights,” read the statement.
The ZHRC further reported that the country continues to make commendable strides in safeguarding children’s rights and welfare through Constitutional and Statutory guarantees.
“The Constitution explicitly enshrines human rights that protect all children.
“Some of the Constitutional provisions apply more directly to children’s rights.
“These include Sections 19, 75, and 81 covering child welfare, education and protection from abuse while key laws such as The Children’s Act [Chapter 5:06], The Education Act [Chapter 25:04] and The Marriages Act [Chapter 5:17] provide the legal framework for implementation.
“The criminalisation of child marriages, setting 18 as the minimum age for marriage remains a landmark step towards protecting girls from exploitation and abuse.
“However, enforcement and access to justice continue to face structural gaps, particularly in rural and marginalised communities”, said the ZHRC.
It was added that upholding this year’s theme requires giving children a platform to be heard and ensuring that policies and practices truly reflect their voices, aspirations and best interests.
“At the international and regional levels, Zimbabwe’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) affirm the State’s obligation to uphold children’s rights to education, health, social protection and other rights.
“Despite the existence of a strong legislative and policy framework, children in Zimbabwe continue to face multiple, interlinked challenges that undermine their rights and overall development.
“Child marriages, child labour, exclusion from education, violence, vulnerability to drug and substance abuse and the marginalisation of children with disabilities remain persistent. “Collectively, these issues compromise children’s ability to access education, enjoy good health and realise their full potential.”
It was further revealed that the Commission calls for the strengthening of child protection systems, effective enforcement of existing laws and the resourcing of schools, hospitals, and social safety nets.
“Child participation should be promoted through platforms such as more vibrant and well-funded Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe, schoolbased child rights clubs among others to ensure that children’s voices are heard in shaping policies and programmes that affect them,” added the statement.
