Towards a Conducive Environment for Women HRDs 51 The Attorney-General § Diligently advise all state institutions and actors on their role in promoting and protecting the rights of women HRDs and refuse to defend any state actor and institution violating such rights. § Urgently pursue the legislative reform processes necessary to ensure that all laws relevant to women (including women HRDs) are aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and regional and international instruments that promote and protect the rights of women HRDs. The Judiciary and Judicial Service Commission (JSC) § In all courts, exercise its function as the third arm of government independently, without fear or favour, in order to protect the rights of women HRDs who are victims of human rights violations, ensure effective remedies, and fight the culture of impunity for such violations. § The JSC must put in place training programmes to improve understanding of violations against women HRDs and create awareness on the important role they play; and to strengthen capacity of the judicial role, through the adjudication process, in preventing and addressing such violations. § Expeditiously deal with cases of violations of rights of women HRDs and hold the perpetrators to account in criminal and civil matters. Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services § Ensure that where women HRDs are detained in its facilities, they are treated with dignity and respect and in accordance with the rights afforded them in the Constitution, whether they are awaiting trial detainees, or convicted prisoners. Parliament of Zimbabwe § Ensure that all proposed new legislation and amendments to existing legislation, comply with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and regional and international human rights instruments in relation to the protection and promotion of the rights of women, and particularly women HRDs. § Raise questions and pursue motions that will improve the protection of women HRDs and hold perpetrators of crimes against them accountable. § Through the work of various portfolio and thematic committees involved in human rights, women’s rights and justice delivery, seek to ensure that the issues raised in this publication are debated and investigated, and that there is regular interface with organisations and individual women HRDs on their situation and what can be done to improve it. 5.3 Recommendations for law reform § Women HRDs must be fully consulted and their views must be taken into account in the law reform process that is taking place to harmonise all laws with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. § All law reform initiatives in the future must be fully accessible to women HRDs.

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