HARARE – A financing agreement for US$5.8 million to support child protection programs in Zimbabwe was signed on Wednesday by Ms. Åsa Pehrson, the Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, and Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Zimbabwe.
The investment from Sweden marks an important juncture, as it will further advance and deepen the partnership between Sweden and UNICEF, and supports the children of Zimbabwe.
Worldwide, children experience various forms of violence, exploitation and abuse, committed in homes and schools. The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly highlighted online violence against children.
Zimbabwe has made progress on many child protection issues, including the adoption of legislation criminalizing child marriage, increased birth registrations, and a child-friendly justice system. Yet, over two-thirds of Zimbabwean children experience some form of violent discipline, and nearly one-third of children aged 5-17 work under hazardous conditions. An alarming one-third of girls under 18 experience sexual violence, such as early marriage and pregnancy.
The government of Zimbabwe says it is committed to addressing all forms of violence against children, aiming to create a Zimbabwe fit for children through strategic partnerships and expanded financing of the Child Protection Fund.
“Government of Zimbabwe is committed to addressing all forms of violence against children to ensure that every child grows in a safe, secure and protective environment. Our aim is to create a Zimbabwe fit for children through strategic partnerships and to expand child protection financing through the Child Protection Fund. Government expresses its gratitude to the people of Sweden for the continued financial support towards the protection of vulnerable persons in Zimbabwe over the years. The support rendered today will go a long way in improving the wellbeing of children, particularly those who are marginalized and vulnerable,” said Mr Simon Masanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare.
Through its 5.8 million USD funding to UNICEF, Sweden will support the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe in five programme areas that are critical to protect children against violence, abuse and exploitation: (1) access to response services for the most vulnerable children through the National Case Management System; (2) prevention of Violence Against Children and Gender Based Violence through interventions that address harmful practices, social and gender norms and behavioural drivers of violence; (3) access to justice for children; (4) access to birth registration services; and (5) policy, legal and regulatory framework improvements.
“Sweden believes that an efficient protection is essential to the children’s wellbeing because, as vulnerable people, they are more exposed to issues of mistreatment, exploitation, discrimination and violence”, said Her Excellency Ms. Åsa Pehrson, Ambassador of Sweden in Zimbabwe.
The funding of Sweden will be used primarily in ten districts: Binga, Chiredzi, Bulilima, Buhera, Zvishavane, Mbire, Epworth, Beitbridge, Mutasa and Bulawayo. The districts have been selected based on the following key deprivation factors: urban, rural, and peri-urban locations; poorest and vulnerable districts; districts prone to climate shocks; and remote districts to address the leave no one behind dimension.
The Swedish funding is part of the Child Protection Fund III, a multi-donor fund mechanism which is open to all partners interested in supporting the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe to provide a safe and secure protective environment for children to grow up in.
‘Sweden has been a long-term partner and donor to the protection sector in Zimbabwe. We are grateful to the Government of Sweden for this new contribution that will enable the fulfilment and realization of children’s rights to protection in Zimbabwe. We hope that many other countries will soon follow Sweden’s example and join the Child Protection Fund’, said Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe.
The signature of the agreement between Sweden and UNICEF coincides with the launch by UNICEF of a communication campaign on child protection focusing particularly on birth registration, children with disabilities, community childcare workers and child friendly justice.
