Zimbabwe acknowledges Unicef support for special courts

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has hailed Unicef for its significant contributions to improving the justice delivery system in Zimbabwe, reports New Zimbabwe. During the official opening ceremony of the 2025 judicial year in Harare, Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza remarked that the Victim Friendly Courts (VFC) initiative represents the JSC’s most notable success. VFCs are specifically designed to protect vulnerable witnesses, such as victims of sexual abuse. ‘It is important to acknowledge the critical role played by Unicef in the Victim Friendly Court System. Through our partnership, Unicef has significantly contributed to the training of judicial officers, police and prosecutors, while also providing vital equipment and supporting witnesses. This collaboration has been one of the judiciary’s greatest success stories, with the system now operating at national, provincial and district levels.’ Unicef, with support from Sweden through the Child Protection Fund, the EU via the Spotlight Initiative, and various other donors, has been instrumental in setting up and operating VFCs in the country for the past decade.

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