04/05/2026
𝐙𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐰𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 🇿🇼🇩🇰
This week in Aarhus, partners from Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Honduras, and Denmark gathered for the Reduce Exploitation and Abuse of Children Together (REACT) Partnership Conference, a global platform focused on reducing the abuse and exploitation of children.
One of the key highlights was a powerful presentation by Viva Network Zimbabwe’s Programs Manager, Mrs R. F. Mariridza, who shared the country’s progress, lessons and strategic direction under the REACT program.
At the heart of Zimbabwe’s update was a clear message: systems are strengthening, and children are increasingly being placed at the center of protection efforts.
Significant progress has been made in improving access to justice for children. Through coordinated engagement with justice actors, case management processes have been strengthened, leading to faster service delivery. Government systems have also shown tangible advancement. The introduction of family-club safeguarding approaches, now effected at provincial level, alongside strengthened foster care systems and the activation of School Child Protection Committees, reflects growing institutional commitment to child protection. These school-based platforms are not just functional structures; they are enabling children themselves to speak up, report concerns, and take part in safeguarding solutions.
At community level, the program is contributing to shifts in social norms. Church-led positive masculinity groups are opening up conversations around harmful practices, while stakeholders across ministries and civil society have endorsed a standardized referral pathway for Harare Province. This marks a critical step toward a more coordinated and effective child protection system.
Reflecting on implementation, Mrs Mariridza highlighted an important insight, "community-based structures remain the backbone of effective child protection systems" . At the same time, challenges such as staff turnover, limited resources and cultural barriers continue to require deliberate and sustained attention.
Looking ahead, Zimbabwe’s priorities are clear. The focus will be on strengthening family-based interventions, scaling positive parenting and masculinity initiatives, improving psychosocial support, and ensuring inclusive safeguarding for children with disabilities. There is also strong commitment to deepening coordination between communities and formal justice systems, ensuring no child falls through the gaps.
Throughout her presentation, Mrs Mariridza emphasized, “Anything for the child, without the child, is not for the child.”
This moment in Denmark is more than a conference. It is a reaffirmation of shared commitment between government actors, development partners such as CISU and implementing organisations across continents. Together, we are not only strengthening programs, we are building systems that protect, empower, and give voice to every child.
“Every child deserves to grow up safe, loved, and protected; not just cared for, but cherished.”Our vision is to see all children living in safe and loving families and communities, where they are nurtured, valued, and free from harm.
