Zimbabwe has signed the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AUCEVAWG), reaffirming its commitment to protecting women and girls and ending gender-based violence.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, signed the Convention today at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, making Zimbabwe the 10th AU Member State to sign the landmark instrument.
The Convention provides a comprehensive continental framework to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls, address its root causes, strengthen legal and institutional responses, and promote gender equality, human rights, and dignity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe’s signing represents more than a formal commitment — it is a pledge to women and girls across Zimbabwe and the African continent.
“A secure, equal, and dignified reality for women and girls is a prerequisite for achieving AU Agenda 2063,” she said.
The Convention was adopted in February 2025 and will enter into force once 15 Member States have deposited their instruments of ratification. Zimbabwe has committed to completing its national legal processes towards ratification.
The signing of the Convention aligns with Zimbabwe’s national policies and strategies. Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2, 2026–2030) treats gender equality and women’s empowerment as a vital cross-cutting priority for achieving inclusive growth and Vision 2030.
The core goal of Zimbabwe’s National Gender Policy is to eradicate gender discrimination and inequalities in all spheres of life and development, aiming to build a gender-just society where men and women participate as equal partners.
