Submitted by Denitsa on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
Zimbabwe has ratified the CRC but has not incorporated it into its national law. The Convention therefore has no precedence over conflicting provisions of national law and cannot be directly relied on in the courts. It has, however, been cited by the High Court of Zimbabwe in several cases. The specialised Children’s Court hears all cases related to the protection, welfare, custody and maintenance of children. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission investigates complaints alleging human rights abuses by public authorities and can also investigate on its own initiative. After all domestic remedies have been exhausted, children complainants have recourse to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
