Zimbabwe: Submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Introduction

We write in advance of the 73rd pre-session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“the Committee”). We hope this submission will inform the Committee’s preparation of its list of issues to seek further clarity on Zimbabwe’s compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This submission focuses on teenage pregnancy and child marriage as barriers to the rights to health and education, rights abuses in tobacco farming and diamond mining, the right to free and compulsory education, and the protection of education from attack.

Teenage Pregnancy and Child Marriage

Teenage pregnancy and child marriage are significant challenges in Zimbabwe. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Zimbabwe has a high teenage pregnancy rate, with 111 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 in 2023. Child marriage is also prevalent, with 34% of girls marrying before the age of 18.

• [1] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), “World Population Dashboard” (webpage), 2023, https://www.unfpa.org/data/world-population-dashboard (accessed June 22, 2023).

The consequences of teenage pregnancy and child marriage are detrimental to the rights to health and education. Teenage mothers often face health risks and limited access to healthcare services. Child brides are more likely to drop out of school, limiting their educational opportunities and perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

• [3] Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, Survey Findings Report (Harare: ZIMSTAT and UNICEF, 2019), https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/media/2536/file/Zimbabwe%202019%20MICS%20Survey%20Findings%20Report-31012020_English.pdf (accessed June 22, 2023).

Efforts to address teenage pregnancy and child marriage should align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on good health and well-being and SDG 4 on quality education.

Rights Abuses in Tobacco Farming and Diamond Mining

Rights abuses in tobacco farming and diamond mining are of concern in Zimbabwe. Child labor is prevalent in these industries, with children as young as 10 years old working long hours in hazardous conditions. These children are exposed to nicotine poisoning and other health risks.

• [4] MIET Africa, The Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescents and Young People in the Southern African Development Community Region, June 2021, https://mietafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/REPORT-Impact_COVID_19_AYP_SADCRegional.pdf (accessed June 22, 2023).

In tobacco farming, children are exposed to nicotine poisoning through direct contact with tobacco leaves. In diamond mining, children work in hazardous conditions, risking injury and exposure to toxic substances. These practices violate the rights of children to protection from hazardous work and to education.

• [17] Human Rights Watch, A Bitter Harvest: Child Labor and Human Rights Abuses on Tobacco Farms in Zimbabwe (New York: Human Rights Watch, 2018), https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/04/05/bitter-harvest/child-labor-and-human-rights-abuses-tobacco-farms-zimbabwe.

Efforts to address rights abuses in tobacco farming and diamond mining should align with SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.

The Right to Free and Compulsory Education

The right to free and compulsory education is enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. However, barriers such as school fees and indirect costs for books and uniforms prevent many children from accessing education.

• [9] These can include school fees and indirect costs for books and uniforms. See Human Rights Watch, “Open Letter regarding the Zimbabwe Education Amendment Bill of 2019,” May 10, 2019, https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/05/10/open-letter-regarding-zimbabwe-education-amendment-bill-2019.

Efforts to ensure free and compulsory education should align with SDG 4 on quality education.

Protection of Education from Attack

The protection of education from attack is crucial to ensure safe learning environments for children. However, schools in Zimbabwe have been targeted during political unrest and armed conflict, disrupting children’s access to education.

• [37] Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, Education Under Attack 2020, July 2020, https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/eua_2020_full.pdf (accessed June 5, 2023).

Efforts to protect education from attack should align with SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• SDG 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• SDG 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
• SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 3.7: Percentage of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
• Indicator for SDG 4.1: Net enrollment rate in primary education.
• Indicator for SDG 4.5: Percentage of students in primary education who are girls.
• Indicator for SDG 5.3: Percentage of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 18.
• Indicator for SDG 8.7: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
• Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of population below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location.
• Indicator for SDG 16.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: hrw.org

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