UPR Sexual Rights Database

" National Report:
Para 17) Since the previous review, Government has ratified the following human rights treaties: ... Palermo Protocol …

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 2) Zimbabwe supported a recommendation to ratify outstanding human rights instruments and has since ratified … OP-CRC-SC ...

Para 101 )Where there is information pointing to trafficking, Government is taking measures to investigate, prosecute and/or repatriate victims. For example, Government has been investigating and where appropriate charging persons allegedly involved in the trafficking of several women and securing their repatriation"

National Report:
Para 29) Zimbabwe has made positive efforts to create an enabling policy environment for the improvement of public health. This has been done through the National Health Strategy (NHS) for Zimbabwe 2016-2020 and a robust HIV response strategy. The NHS seeks to achieve equity and quality in health.
Para 35) Government continues to strengthen its efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.

National Report Annex:
Government continues fighting HIV/AIDS through a robust HIV response strategy. The strategy includes domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) through an AIDS levy to ensure sustainability. The DRM is supplemented by donor support to the health sector through the Health Development Fund and the Global Fund, which secured over $400 million dollars for HIV related interventions.

The 2019 MICS revealed that among men and women between the ages 15-49 years, 77% and 88% of men and women respectively, have ever been tested for HIV in their lives. The proportion of those who have ever been tested and also knew their status was 75% among males and 87% among females. The 2019 MICS also showed that around 48% of males had an HIV test within the 12 months preceding the survey, and amongst women, 61% reported to having been tested during the same period. Nearly all of the males and females who were tested within the 12 months that preceded the 2019 MICS knew the results of their tests. The results of the 2019 MICS when compared with those from previous surveys show significant improvements in HIV testing among both males and females.

In the period between 2016 and 2018, an average of 92% of pregnant and lactating women were provided with HIV PMTCT services. In the same timeframe, the proportion of children born with HIV was 4%, 3% and 4% respectively. The total number of people who died from AIDS declined from 23 496, to 23 885 and 23 107 respectively.
The GoZ continues in its efforts to combat diseases. Especially malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Over the years, Zimbabwe has made significant gains in curbing the HIV/Aids pandemic, with the prevalence rate now around 11 percent from a high of around 25 percent. Zimbabwe also achieved the 2020 targets of ensuring that 90 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 90 percent of those who know their status are on ART and 90 percent of those on ART are virally suppressed. Development partners such as the Global Fund and other stakeholders have supported Government’s efforts. With continued support from development partners, considerable progress can be made towards ending HIV/Aids by 2030.

Zimbabwe has completed its National Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 focusing on investment in health and social protection among others, whilst protecting the gains achieved so far.
Local pharmaceutical firms currently produce only 12 percent of medicines consumed in the country. Measures by Government to help raise this low threshold include backing the pharmaceutical sector to increase local production through, for example, buying its products and importing less through the government-owned National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe.

A pharmaceutical manufacturing strategy for Zimbabwe (2021-2025), running under the theme, “Enhancing productivity and competitiveness of the Zimbabwe pharmaceutical industry”, was launched in June 2021. The strategy seeks to boost local production of pharmaceuticals. At the launch, Government assured the pharmaceutical companies that it would buy locally-produced consumables and not import what is produced locally.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 19) JS7 noted the existence of laws that discriminated against persons based on their real or imputed sexual orientation, including Section 78 of the Constitution, which restricts marriage rights to heterosexual relationships, Section 73 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalises consensual same-sex sexual relations regardless of the age of the persons, and Section 14(1)(f) of the Immigration Act, which classifies “homosexuals” as prohibited persons. In addition, other laws which although were prima facie neutral, have been weaponised by law enforcement officials, including Section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, on disorderly conduct and Section 46 of this Act on criminal nuisance. JS7 stated that the criminalization of consensual same-sex relations lay at the heart of the human rights violations perpetrated against LBGTI persons.
Para 20) Noting that in the previous review, recommendations relating to equality and nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression did not enjoy the support of Zimbabwe, JS1 stated that the current context characterised, inter alia, by poverty, unstable fiscal policies and religious fundamentalism, perpetuated stigma and discrimination against women and LGBTI persons.
Para 21) TIRZ stated that the criminalization of HIV transmission, consensual sex between adult males and sex work increased the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV and LGBTI persons.
Para 22) JS7 noted the absence of legislation allowing for transgender persons to change their gender marker on their identification documents.
Para 73) JS9 stated that stigma and discrimination by health service providers denied transgender and intersex identifying persons their rights to health care. Additionally, the public health services did not provide affirming health services for transgender and intersex persons.