SEARCWL-UZ educates Master and PhD students in issues concerning women’s rights and women and law all through the Southern and Eastern region of Africa. Students from countries like Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Cameroon and Uganda have been part of the programmes through the years.
The Master students had been grouped into six groups, focusing on different issues in the Gweru region. The students have different backgrounds, including professionals from the Magistrate courts, police force and prison guards from all over Southern and Eastern Africa. They therefore did research in areas they have practical experience from in their own work situation. Themes that were covered were women’s rights when in prison, issues concerning sexual health and harassment and access to the court system for women.
A victim of domestic violence finds it hard to deal with the court system. Photo: Cecilie Butenschøn Mariri
Another group performed a play on the findings they had in Shurugwi Prison, Gweru. They addressed crucial health issues women face in prison, like HIV/AIDS, maternity and child concerns and sanitation challenges. Interestingly this group had both one previous policeman and a prison officer being part of the play and seeing their position in a new light.
The plays and performances were light hearted and warm observations from the Master students, at the same time as they touched on crucial challenges for women in Zimbabwe today and gave some moments of digesting the seriousness of women’s rights in Zimbabwe. A focus area the Norwegian Embassy is proud to be a supporter of.