By a Correspondent
The United Nations has condemned the sexual abuse of children and called for zero tolerance towards rape and child marriage after a senior UN official encountered a 12-year-old Zimbabwean girl who had been forced into motherhood after being sexually abused.
UN Women Deputy Executive Director Dr Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda described the case as a devastating illustration of the consequences of sexual violence against children, saying society cannot allow rape or child marriage to be justified under any circumstances.
Speaking during an engagement on gender-based violence and child protection, Dr Gumbonzvanda recounted meeting the girl while visiting the Rosaria Shelter in Murehwa, Mashonaland East, a facility that provides care and support to survivors of abuse.
The child had been referred from Mutoko after giving birth by Caesarean section and was taken to the shelter because there was no comparable facility available in her home district.
Dr Gumbonzvanda said the encounter exposed the brutal reality of children being robbed of their childhood through sexual violence.
“The girl wanted to go and play with others, but she is a mother. We had to prioritize breastfeeding her daughter instead of her being just a girl,” she said.
The remarks underscore the profound physical, psychological and social consequences of sexual abuse, particularly when victims are children who are subsequently forced to assume parental responsibilities.
Dr Gumbonzvanda said the case should serve as a warning that rape and child marriage must never be normalised, excused or treated as acceptable practices.
“We cannot have tolerance of rape. We cannot justify child marriage or rape on any ground,” she said.
She said UN Women was working with several government ministries to respond to the girl’s circumstances, while stressing that the case represented a much broader child-protection crisis requiring a coordinated national response.
“We are working with your ministries, with a range of ministries, to respond to this issue, to this specific case, but we are also saying this is a broader issue,” she said.
The UN official called for government, communities, families and development partners to strengthen efforts to prevent sexual violence, protect children and ensure survivors receive timely medical, psychosocial and other forms of support.
The case also highlights the devastating intersection between child sexual abuse, early pregnancy and child marriage, with children’s rights advocates continuing to demand stronger prevention measures and greater accountability for perpetrators.
For a 12-year-old to be caring for a newborn instead of attending school, playing with peers and experiencing childhood, Dr Gumbonzvanda’s account underscores the human cost of failing to protect children from sexual violence.
The United Nations’ intervention comes as Zimbabwe continues efforts to combat gender-based violence and child marriage, with advocates warning that laws and awareness campaigns must be matched by effective enforcement, accessible survivor services and stronger community-level protection mechanisms.
