Summary

Sexual Offences Act of Zimbabwe, 2001.

Zimbabwe's Sexual Offences Act aims to protect women from sexual abuse. It criminalizes marital rape, willful transmission of HIV and AIDS, and sex trafficking.

Contents

Part 1: Preliminary

• Section 1: Short Title.
• Section 2: Interpretation.

Part 2: Extra-Marital Sexual Intercourse with Young Persons and Intellectually Handicapped Persons

• Section 3: Extra-marital sexual intercourse or immoral or indecent act committed with young person.
• Section 4: Extra-marital sexual intercourse or immoral or indecent act committed with intellectually handicapped person.
• Section 5: Prevention of sexual exploitation of young persons and intellectually handicapped persons outside Zimbabwe.
• Section 6: Prevention of conspiracy or incitement abroad to exploit young persons or intellectually handicapped persons in Zimbabwe.
• Section 7: Permitting young person to resort to place for purpose of extra-marital sexual intercourse.

Part 3: Non-consensual Sexual Acts

• Section 8: Punishment of rape or certain non-consensual acts.

Part 4: Suppression of Prostitution 

• Section 9: Brothels and pimping.
• Section 10: Detention of persons for sexual purposes.
• Section 11: Procuring.
• Section 12: Coercing or inducing a person to have extra-marital intercourse.
• Section 13: Use of place as brothel renders lease void.
• Section 14: Summary ejectment when place is kept or used as brothel.

Part 5: Prevention of Spread of HIV

• Section 15: Deliberate transmission of HIV.
• Section 16: Sentence for certain offences where offender is infected with HIV.
• Section 17: Testing of sexual offenders for HIV infection.
• Section 18: Presumptions regarding HIV infection.
• Section 19: Jurisdiction of regional magistrates.

Part 6: General 

• Section 20: Act not to limit offences under other laws.
• Section 21: Presumption regarding marriage.
• Section 22: Amendment of presumption that boy under 14 incapable of sexual intercourse.
• Section 23: Consent by young person no defense in certain circumstances.
• Section 24: Repeal of Cap. 9:05.
• Section 25: Amendment of section 51 of Cap. 7:10.
• Section 26: Amendment of sections 211 and 247 of Cap. 9:07.
• Section 27: Amendment of section 2 of Cap. 15:10.

Source: UN Women Global Database on Violence Against Women (Document Source)

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