Towards a Conducive Environment for Women HRDs 49 states that women HRDs must participate in the development of effective policies and programmes related to their protection, recognising their independence and expertise with regard to their own needs, and the need to create and strengthen mechanisms for consultation and dialogue with women HRDs. Zimbabwe is also urged to adopt and implement policies and programmes that provide women HRDs with access to effective remedies. 5.2 Recommendations for institutional reform To Independent Constitutional Commissions Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission § Create awareness on the rights, roles and responsibilities of HRDs and the particular special situation of women HRDs. § Support and ensure the documentation and investigation of violations against women HRDs in Zimbabwe, including provision of remedies where such violations are confirmed. § Integrate a gender dimension into the planning and implementation of all programmes and other interventions related to human rights promotion and protection to ensure that there is equal access to, and benefit from, the ZHRC by both men and women HRDs. § In its role of advising government on whether laws comply with its human rights obligations, consult women HRDs to identify laws with an impact on their activities, and to obtain their views on how they have been affected and what steps can be taken to ensure legislative reform and non-recurrence. § Ensure full participation in consultations of all women HRDs including those in rural communities, marginalised women (living with disabilities, or from minority groups) in order to make necessary reform recommendations that promote the rights of all women HRDs. § Investigate all cases of violations of rights of women HRDs and ensure perpetrators are brought to book, in order to fight stigma and the culture of impunity. § Frequently visit women HRDs in detention to ascertain their condition to minimise incidence of torture as well as other violations against them. § Work with traditional chiefs, headmen and community leaders to enhance understanding on the role of women HRDs in the private and public sphere, in order to contribute effectively to changing negative attitudes and practices. National Peace and Reconciliation Commission § In its processes, once established, ensure that there is effective participation of women HRDs in all initiatives, including transitional justice processes, to secure accountability and redress for previous violations and abuses. § Ensure that there is gender mainstreaming in the planning and implementation of its programmes for women HRDs to allow them to fully participate and benefit therefrom; including gender-specific programmes to address violations that have been perpetrated on women as a specific group (such as women subjected to rape and other forms of gender-based violence in the political sphere).