UN Women has launched "Stronger Together," a two-month campaign running October 20 through December 10, 2026, aimed at reducing stigma faced by women and girls returning to Zimbabwe from South Africa. The initiative seeks to prevent gender-based violence and build community acceptance as returnees work to rebuild their lives at home.
What the campaign involves
Organized under the theme "Communities United Against GBV, Stigma and Discrimination," the campaign relies on community radio, roadshows, public dialogues and digital storytelling to shift attitudes toward returnees. The official launch will take place in Epworth, bringing together government officials, UN agencies, community leaders, women's rights organizations, young people, media practitioners and returnees themselves. The launch event will include testimonies from returnees, live radio broadcasts, theatre performances and information booths offering referrals to gender-based violence support services.
Outreach will extend beyond Epworth to Chipinge and Masvingo, where organizers plan radio programs, market activations, youth platforms and call-in shows designed to open conversations about discrimination and violence prevention. Online, UN Women will use Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, working with community-led content creators and influencers to reach wider audiences under the hashtag #StrongerTogetherZW.
Why reintegration is complicated
According to UN Women, returning home is only the first step for many women and girls; successful reintegration depends on safe communities, social acceptance and real opportunities to rebuild life with dignity. Without those conditions, returnees risk continued exclusion even after leaving South Africa. A companion effort, Voices of Resilience, will document returnees' experiences alongside the stories of community members actively promoting inclusion and solidarity, producing a documentary, short videos and radio features intended to counter negative perceptions.
Broader context and partners
The campaign is timed to align with the 2026 global UNiTE campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls, themed "Ensure Justice. Protect Survivors. End Impunity." UN Women is coordinating with government ministries, faith-based organizations, community leaders, women's rights groups and media houses in Zimbabwe. Organizers describe the effort as a call for shared responsibility, arguing that preventing gender-based violence and supporting returnees' access to services requires active community participation rather than awareness-raising alone.