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#IWD2026 Statement 💥
Today, the WELEAD Africa team joins the African continent and the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2026 under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
➡️This year’s theme calls for renewed commitment to equality, safety, and access to justice, principles that lie at the heart of our work.
➡️The 2026 theme resonates deeply with our initiatives such as Youth On The Bus, Feminizing Solidarity Networks, and Rethinking Democracy from a Feminist Tech Lens, among other programmes that champion women’s rights, equality, and justice. These projects reflect our belief that a just society is one where women and girls can live free from violence, discrimination, and systemic exclusion.
➡️Today, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls. Promoting gender equality is the lifeblood of our organization. ➡️Our programming is intentionally gender-sensitive, and we continue to create platforms and safe spaces where women can express their views, share innovative ideas, and propose solutions that shape their communities. We believe that women are equal citizens with equal abilities, deserving of full participation in all spheres of life.
➡️This
#IWD2026 comes at a critical moment for Zimbabwe. The proposed Constitutional Amendment Number 3 of 2026, which seeks to place the Zimbabwe Gender Commission under another commission, represents a troubling rollback in the fight for gender equality. Such a move risks weakening the Commission’s independence and silencing the voices of women who rely on it for protection, accountability, and justice. We firmly believe that the Gender Commission must remain autonomous and fully empowered to carry out its mandate.
➡️Women across Africa and the whole world continue to face oppression, discrimination, and systemic barriers. As WELEAD Africa, we remain steadfast in advocating for positive change. We call upon the authorities to:
📍Key Calls to Action
🎯Uphold the independence of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to ensure it can effectively safeguard women’s rights.
🎯Strengthen legal and institutional frameworks that protect women and girls from violence, discrimination, and exploitation.
🎯Ensure meaningful participation of women and girls in all decision-making processes at local and national levels.
🎯Invest in gender-responsive policies and services, including access to justice, digital rights, education, and economic empowerment.
🎯Promote accountability mechanisms that address gender-based violence and systemic inequality.
➡️On this International Women’s Day, we stand in solidarity with all women and girls across Zimbabwe, Africa, and the world. We recommit ourselves to building a future where justice is accessible, rights are protected, and equality is non-negotiable.
📍Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls📌.
@MVerwijk @SCMZimbabwe @advora_1 @MalemaZw @Director_pseudo @MakomboreroH @unwomenzw @sivioinstitute @ResistBureau @tapiwa_chiriga @table_girls @WalpeAcademy @WCOZIMBABWE @eva_tarie @_DASonline @FranceZimbabwe @amnesty_zim @youth_invest @RetzlaffCh