Zimbabwe’s National Case Management System for child protection and enhanced rights realisation for children with disabilities (CWDS)

Abstract

Impoverishment and social exclusion of Children with Disabilities is pervasive in Zimbabwe. What is further disconcerting to the plight of Children with Disabilities is a fragile economic environment where not enough material resources can be channelled towards guaranteeing their enhanced social functioning. The author did a synthesis of the existing academic and policy literature and uses social work lens to undertake a situational analysis of current Zimbabwean child protection system dynamics with regards to Children with Disabilities hereafter referred to as CWDs. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare (MoPSLSW), partnering with UNICEF and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) developed a social protection program incorporating poor households targeted cash transfer and a coordinated system for child protection case management. Given this background, this article will explore state and non-state duty bearers’ roles in guaranteeing enhanced social functioning of CWDs grounded in the human rights framework. The article concludes by offering pathways for more proactive social protection interventions by  Government of Zimbabwe, state and none state actors to pro CWDs social protection.

Key Terms:  children, poverty, Zimbabwe, rights, disability