m a ppi n g wo m en ’s n eeDs i n Zi m ba bw e’s nat i o na l h e a l i n g pr o ce ss political leaders. Several respondents argued that the inclusion of women in political decisionmaking structures would be a direct way of making transitional justice and national healing processes truly women-centred, and pointed with appreciation to the positions held by Vice President Joice Mujuru and Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe. With reference to perceptions of gender-based political violence, survivors of such violence called for a shift of focus away from seeking out abusers to concentrating more on survivors’ needs. During focus-group discussions, some respondents expressed a need to be heard with dignity, respect and without risk of being stigmatised when narrating their ordeals. They spoke of their need to be compensated for the loss of their property, and to be given free access to psychosocial support to help them deal with trauma. Women also regarded the addressing of systemic discrimination in the justice system – especially against women from the MDC formations – as crucial to gender justice. Respondents from the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers’ Association defined gender justice as ‘adequate protection, security and promotion of civil, political, economic and social rights on the basis of gender equality’. Respondents who had experienced political violence were well aware of the cycles of violence and power dynamics at play in Zimbabwe’s political sphere. Loyal allegiance to the status quo was said to be retrogressive in relation to creating a democratic society in Zimbabwe. Participants in this study also lamented the fact that Zimbabwe is signatory to various international instruments, agreements and protocols that seek to promote and enhance the status of women in society, yet often ignores these in practice. Reference was made to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Declaration of the Rights of the Child; the Convention on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights; The Beijing Platform of Action; and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. Section 1.11 of Zimbabwe’s constitution provides that these international instruments be ratified and domesticated by incorporating them into national law. Unfortunately, from the perspective of the women who participated in this study, few of these commitments have been honoured. The need for the rule of law to support national healing Experience in Zimbabwe over the past decade has clearly demonstrated that the consolidation of peace in an immediate post-conflict period, and the maintenance of peace in the long term, cannot be achieved unless the affected population is confident that, through accessing legitimate structures, they can obtain redress for grievances (Du Plessis and Ford, 2008). At the same time, the heightened vulnerability of women and children, displaced persons and others, which is evident in all conflict and post-conflict situations, adds an element of urgency to the restoration of the rule of law. The rule of law is highly valued by many women in Zimbabwe. To most respondents in this study, the concept refers to a principle of good and legitimate governance in which all persons, institutions, public or private, including the state itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equitably enforced, independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human-rights norms and standards. To be fully realised, respondents were of the view that the rule of law requires measures that ensure adherence to the principles of: • • • • transparency and accountability to the law; equality before the law and fairness in its application; the separation of powers – executive, legislative and judiciary; participation in decision-making; 7 IJR Zimbabwe Womens needs OP proof 2.indd 7 7/16/2012 11:01:30 AM