Leave No One Behind
HIV/AIDS: Women and Girls in Zimbabwe
Briefing paper | Leave No One Behind | 2018
Fortunate Machingura, Gibson Mhlanga, Candice Mtwazi and David Hulme
With significant progress made since 1980, outcomes of Zimbabwe's investment to improve the human development status of women and girls are clear and wired firmly in the country's constitution.
Among them is the education of girls - with Zimbabwe consistently topping the Literacy Rates in Africa for both girls and boys. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that educated girls become healthier, and more empowered women who contribute to growing economies, shift attitudes and break cycles of violence.
But despite the progress, women and girls still suffer great inequalities and remain mired in poverty and exclusion. They disproportionally bear the burden and impact of HIV/AIDS and continue to experience violence. Accordingly, the status of women and girls remains high on the country's development agenda, and the commitment to leave no woman or girl behind is more important now than ever.
This briefing paper outlines how decision-makers in the Government of Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care, the National AIDS Council and other sector ministries can work with community groups, academia, international and local partners to tackle some of the most stubborn pockets of social norms that greatly value gender inequality - to ensure millions of women and girls in Zimbabwe are not left behind in the fight to end the AIDS epidemic.