Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security of 2000; Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1889, and 1820 of 2008. The main regional peace building mechanism that
Zimbabwe is party to the African Union Policy on Post – Conflict Reconstruction and
Development. The role of women in peace-building and conflict-resolution is enshrined in the
SADC Gender Protocol, article 28 which states that: ‘State Parties shall endeavour to put in place
measures to ensure that women have equal representation and participation in key decisionmaking positions in conflict resolution and peace building processes by 2015 in accordance with
UNCSR 1325 provision.
At national level, realising the importance of peace and reconciliation, an Organ for National
Healing, Reconciliation and Integration was established, under which Zimbabwe National Policy
Framework for Peace and Reconciliation is established. The framework provides for the
establishment of a National Peace and Reconciliation Council (NPRC) made up of nine members,
four of whom must be women. The Constitution makes provision for the establishment of a
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
Although the space for the involvement of women in peace building and conflict resolution has
been provided, the participation of women in peace negotiations is low as demonstrated by the
following:
In the processes leading to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) of 2008 that formed the
Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe, there was only one woman in the formal negotiation
process.
Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in the world where the number of female
peacekeepers from the police force nearly meets the United Nations Department of
Peacekeeping Operations’ recommendation of at least 20% female representation.
Women representation on these missions nonetheless still remains low.
On average women constitute only 25% representation in senior positions in the Police
force – an institution with an important role to play in peace building and conflict
prevention and management.
While there are efforts to establish institutions to deal with peace building and national healing,
more work remains to strengthen the involvement of women. There is scope for involving women
in peace building through their involvement in democracy and governance institutions and
processes; security matters; justice; psycho-social recovery; and entrepreneurship as a vehicle for
economic recovery and social change.
(vii) Gender and Media, Information and Communication Technology: One of the spectacular
landscape changes in the region has been the opening up of the print and electronic media
sectors. In Zimbabwe, media, information and communication are considered important
mechanisms to deliver the social and economic needs of development. Zimbabwe therefore
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