institutional arrangements through which the policy will be implemented and a framework for monitoring and evaluating the progress and achievements of this policy. 1.2. The Legal and Policy framework The country has ratified most of the fundamental conventions designed to achieve gender justice across sectors. The NGP is designed to translate and deliver on the provisions of an array of international, regional and national provisions stated below. International Policy Framework: Zimbabwe is part to a number of international conventions that provide for gender equality. These are the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1991); the Beijing Declaration on the Platform for Action (1995); the Convention on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR); the Equal Remuneration Convention; the Convention on Prohibition of Discrimination in Occupations, Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and the Convention on Economic, and Social and Cultural Rights (ECOSOC). Regional Policy Framework: In 2008, Zimbabwe ratified the protocol to the 2003 African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women. Zimbabwe is also part to the 2004 Solemn Declaration on Gender and Equality in Africa. In 1997 Zimbabwe ratified the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Gender and Development Protocol and subsequently ratified the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which was adopted by SADC in 2008. The protocol advocates for gender parity in all sectors and sets out 28 substantive targets for achieving gender equality by 2015. Zimbabwe also subscribes to the COMESA Gender Policy which fosters gender equality and equity at all levels of regional integration and cooperation. National Legislative and Policy Framework: Zimbabwe has made significant strides in amending and enacting legislation and has passed out 17 pieces of legislation to advance the gender equality and equity objective. These include Matrimonial Causes Act (1987); Maintenance Act (1999); Administration of Estate Act (1997); Maintenance Act (1999); Sexual Offences Act (2001), Education Act (2004), Labour Act, [Chapter 28:01]; Criminal Law Act (2006); Domestic Violence Act (2007). The 2004 Public Sector Gender Policy put in place Gender Focal Points in all Ministries and parastatals and in 2012 dialogue was initiated to set up a Gender Commission. Zimbabwe’s Constitution: The Constitution of Zimbabwe adopted in 2013 is widely acknowledged for its firm commitment to gender equality. The affirmative action provisions further assert the new Constitution’s resolve for gender inequality redress. The constitution reaffirms earlier commitments shown by the 2005 Constitutional Amendment # 17 which prohibited discrimination on the grounds of sex. Chapter 2 on National Objectives spells out gender balance as one of the objectives to guide the state, all institutions and agencies of Government. Throughout the statement of 26 national objectives, equality is emphasised and where appropriate women and girls are specifically mentioned. The Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of the new Constitution recognises that men and women have a right to equal treatment, including right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres. It 2