March 08, 2025 – As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, SAYWHAT joins the global movement under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” On this occasion, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the health, education, and safety of adolescent girls and young women. With a sharp focus on promoting access to comprehensive healthcare, ensuring educational opportunities, and eradicating gender-based violence, SAYWHAT stands resolute in our mission to create a world where every young woman can thrive. Today, we celebrate the remarkable strides made, milestones achieved, and the road ahead in the fight for gender equality.  Today, we renew our dedication to the path ahead, championing a future of equality and empowerment for adolescent girls and young women.

SAYWHAT celebrates the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action. The Beijing +30 review serves as a powerful reminder of our collective goals and the urgent need for continued action to ensure the rights and empowerment of women and girls. Simultaneously, we celebrate the African Union’s (AU) Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls which reaffirms our continent’s dedication to eradicating gender-based violence and promoting the well-being of all women and girls. SAYWHAT also celebrate the significant strides towards gender equality in Zimbabwe through comprehensive legislative reforms and policy measures that combats gender-based violence, promote girls and women’s participation in education and the workforce, and protect women’s health rights. We celebrate the increase in the 2025 health and education budget allocations, the 2024 Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act, and the ongoing conversations on the review of section 2(1) of the Termination of Pregnancy Act in Zimbabwe. These global, regional, and national frameworks align seamlessly with SAYWHAT’s mission, driving our initiatives to create a safer, healthier, and more equitable world for adolescent girls and young women.

For all Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Health Rights

Over the past two decades, SAYWHAT’s advocacy efforts have been dedicated on addressing the pressing health challenges faced by adolescent girls and young women. Our initiatives aim to provide comprehensive education and access to vital health services, ensuring that adolescent girls and young women are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. As we commemorate International Women’s Day, SAYWHAT reaffirms the commitment to raising awareness about the challenges linked to teen, early, and unplanned/unintended pregnancies. Our goal is to highlight legal frameworks and referral pathways for available SRH services, ensuring adolescent girls and young women are informed and empowered to make safe and healthy decisions. SAYWHAT will persist in advocating for the Medical Services Amendment Bill, which addresses systemic barriers hindering access to health services for adolescent girls without parental or guardian consent. We are committed to elevating the voices of these young women until their health rights are fully realized. We pledge to continue advocating for increased domestic funding towards family planning, reinforcing our commitment to the health and well-being of young women. We call for high-level support and commitment towards family planning programs, comprehensive services and commodities, specifically targeted at adolescents and young people.

For all Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Education Rights

SAYWHAT has been dedicated to advocating for the education rights of adolescent girls and young women through the Girls Education Advocacy in the Region (GEAR) Alliance. This initiative champions inclusive and equitable, education for girls and young women in rural and farming communities in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe towards attainment of vision 2030 and SDG4. Our efforts have led to significant strides, and we commend efforts by governments within the Southern African region. For instance, the Education Amendment Act of 2020 in Zimbabwe, which allows pregnant girls and adolescent mothers to return to school during or after pregnancy ensuring girls who face challenges such as early pregnancies are not permanently excluded from education, providing them with a second chance to continue to their studies. Despite progressive steps, challenges remain with emerging challenges such as climate change which is significantly impacting the Southern African Region. On this International Women’s Day, SAYWHAT is appealing to African Governments to continue prioritization of the education budgets specifically targeted at addressing the impacts of climate change on education. We call for initiatives to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that rural students have equal access to educational resources and technology they need to succeed in the modern world. Furthermore, we urge the review and adaptation of educational curriculums to better serve the needs of adolescent girls and young women. Specifically, we advocate for continued support and refinement of the transition from CALA to Heritage Based Curriculum in Zimbabwe.

For Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Zero Violence

SAYWHAT remains steadfast in its dedication to ending violence against adolescent girls and young women. Our efforts are guided by the establishment and enforcement of comprehensive sexual harassment policies within all institutions of higher learning. These policies are essential in ensuring that every girl and young woman is aware of her rights and can access the necessary protections. In celebration of International Women’s Day, SAYWHAT reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the implementation and rigorous enforcement of sexual harassment policies across educational institutions. Our mission is to ensure that no female student experiences sexual harassment in any school setting. Through the Web for Life Network a vibrant community of female students dedicated to advocating for the health rights of girls and young women, SAYWHAT provides a safe space for young women to advance the recognition, protection, and fulfilment of women’s rights, particularly their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We urge high-level support and commitments to enforce and strengthen sexual harassment policies within educational institutions. It is crucial that these policies are not only established but also effectively communicated and enforced to protect all female students. We also call for the continued support and expansion of safe spaces like the SAYWHAT Web for Life Network, which enables young women to advocate for their rights and well-being. We encourage adolescents’ girls, young women and nation over to utilize our toll-free – 577 to report abuse and seek help in cases of harassment and emphasize the importance of supporting initiatives such as the SAYWHAT Call Centre, which provides critical services to those facing abuse. Collaborative efforts with law enforcement and social development departments are essential to ensuring comprehensive support systems are in place.

On this International Women’s Day, SAYWHAT calls upon all stakeholders to prioritise the rights, aspirations, and potential of adolescent girls and young women recognizing their resilience, creativity, and power to drive positive change. By collaborating with local communities, governments, and international organizations we can create a future where every adolescent girl and young woman can lead a healthy life. Together, we can ensure that every adolescent girl and young woman has access to quality education and the opportunities they need to thrive. We can create a violence-free environment in both educational institutions and communities. SAYWHAT remains unwavering in our commitment to champion policies and programs that prioritize adolescent girls and young women’s unique needs allowing them to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. By incorporating national, regional, and international frameworks into our work, we strengthen our resolve to achieve lasting change, propelling us forward in our pursuit of gender equality and empowerment.