Case history • In February 2009, members of WOZA and the Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA), had their Valentine’s Day demonstration violently disrupted by police; eight of their members were arrested, and several demonstrators were injured. One of the arrested women, who was pregnant, was seriously assaulted while in custody. She had to be treated for deep-tissue bruising after her release. 4.4.3 Violation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights Legal, social and cultural discrimination and persecution of gays, lesbians, transgender and inter­ sexual persons. Policy LGBTI rights are not recognized in Zimbabwe. Section 73 of the Criminal Law Code outlaws homo­sexuality as sodomy. The President of Zimbabwe has made public statements reflecting serious intolerance of alternative sexual orientations. Nature of violations General homophobia and restrictive legislation made it difficult for the LGBTI community to feel safe about coming out about their sexuality. Members of the gay and lesbian community had limited access to medical treatment for sexually transmitted infections as a result of general cultural intolerance, which cascaded to medical staff, whose training and service policies did not prepare them for the acceptance of gay and lesbian clients. Family members have raped gay and lesbian members in an attempt to ‘cure’ them of their homosexuality, and Zimbabwean political leadership has further cultivated this repressive environ­ ment in ill-conceived statements on the subject.* 4.4.4 Violation of differently able (disability) rights Legal, social and cultural disadvantages and discrimination for people with disabilities affecting the quality of their lives through acts of commission or omission on the part of the state. Policy The Disabled Persons Act aims to provide for the welfare and rehabilitation of disabled persons. In education, government policies consistent with the intent of inclusive education include the Education Act, the Disabled Persons Act, and various Ministry of Education circulars,** which require that all students, regardless of race, religion, gender, creed and disability, have access to basic or primary education (up to Grade 7). There are few opportunities for academic education for deaf people beyond Ordinary Level. * See <http://www.care2.com/causes/human-rights/blog/gays-and-lesbians-face-corrective-rape-in-zimbabwe-report-finds/>. ** Such as the Education Secretary’s Policy Circular No. P36, 1990. Zimbabwe Human Rights Report – 2009 21