HARARE – Childline Zimbabwe has joined lawmakers in exploring the creation of a National Sex Offenders Register aimed at strengthening protections for children.
On Monday, Childline took part in a workshop with the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, supported by child-rights organisation Terre des hommes Schweiz, to discuss how such a register could operate in Zimbabwe.
The proposed register would record individuals convicted of sexual offences, allowing authorities to track offenders more effectively and limit their access to children.
“Safeguarding children is a shared responsibility,” Childline Zimbabwe said in a statement noting that the workshop created space to examine how the register could “strengthen child protection efforts by helping track individuals convicted of sexual offences and contributing to safer communities for children.”
Participants discussed how the database could be linked to existing child protection systems and used to support background checks for those working with or around children.
Childline said it will continue to work with Parliament and other partners to advocate for reforms that prioritise children’s safety and ensure survivors of sexual abuse receive protection and support.
