Zimbabwean Senate Calls for Stronger Laws to Protect Women and Children from Illegal Adoption

At the 40th session of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Honourable Mabel Chinomona, President of the Zimbabwean Senate, delivered a compelling call for stronger, gender-sensitive legislation to combat illegal adoption practices.

Senator Chinomona underscored how illegal adoption disproportionately affects women and girls, driven by a troubling intersection of poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to justice. These factors leave vulnerable populations open to exploitation, making urgent reform a national priority.

Highlighting the need for a gender-sensitive approach, she stressed that protecting the rights of women and the girl child must be central to any legislative and enforcement framework addressing illegal adoption.

Moreover, Senator Chinomona called for enhanced international cooperation to effectively tackle illicit adoption networks. She urged countries to share information, harmonize legal standards, and coordinate enforcement efforts to safeguard vulnerable children and families.

Zimbabwe has demonstrated its commitment to child protection through its longstanding ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1990 and more recently, by approving the ratification of the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption. These milestones reflect the nation’s dedication to ensuring the welfare and rights of children are upheld at both national and international levels.

By Witness A Phiri