As many live hand-to-mouth, lockdown deprived them of subsistence means and left them even more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
In June 2021, Zimbabwe’s President launched a new and comprehensive National Disability Policy, which sets high standards for inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in all areas. UNESCO, which advocates for PWD rights in Zimbabwe within the European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative, helped formulate the new policy, mobilizing women and girls with disabilities to develop it, and supporting its implementation. UNESCO has also been supporting PWD organizations to conduct community dialogues and sensitization of community leaders. This has resulted in a documentary to inform policy-makers and key stakeholders. To ensure disability inclusion in service delivery, UNESCO supported the development of a guide on Mainstreaming Disability in the Prevention of and Response to Violence against Women with Disabilities in Zimbabwe. It has helped service providers and researchers to gain a better understanding of disability, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNESCO’s Regional Office for Southern Africa works closely with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the National Disability Board (NDB), responsible for promotion and protection of rights of Zimbabweans with disabilities. A major achievement was a costed Strategic Plan for 2020–2022 and a promotional video on the board’s mission and mandate.
In December 2021, a UNESCO workshop oriented NDB members on the new national policy. UNESCO is helping the board to create programmes on sexual and gender-based violence, harmful practices, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in Africa with legislation specific to PWD.
