(v) Zimbabwe Republic Police The police are a key institution in enforcing the law particularly in sections where the rights of LGBTI persons are clearly recognised just as any other ordinary citizen. The police can be part of the process of reducing violations perpetrated against LGBTI persons by simply discharging their mandate without discrimination or prejudice. This means committing resources to investigating violations and prosecuting perpetrators who are found guilty. The police needs to appreciate its responsibility as an institution towards education and awareness of its employees on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. The police require training support in this area just as they do in other areas of enforcement like elections and peacekeeping efforts. More importantly police officers need to understand the provisions of the law and not wantonly arrest individuals simply for identifying as LGBTI. (vi) Civil Society Organisations Generally civil society has been very supportive of the LGBTI movement over the years, particularly organisations with a strong orientation in public health, women or gender issues. For 28 years GALZ has been spearheading the LGBTI movement offering services and maintaining SOGI issues on the public agenda. GALZ has been a trailblazer for new organisations like Pakasipiti, Voice of the Voiceless (VoVo) and Sexual Rights Center (SRC). This momentum needs to be maintained as well through mainstream LGBTI awareness in programmes that address the human rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This will include incorporating awareness on LGBTI rights within relevant programmes such as HIV, gender and human rights. Civil society as a whole needs to support sensitisation activities and initiatives targeting key partners such as churches, health personnel the police and other law enforcement agents An analysis of the state of human rights violations against LGBTI persons in Zimbabwe (2011-2017) 42