(2017) 1 African Human Rights Yearbook 71 implementation strategy is to track the progress made on the participation of women in decision-making and leadership positions.57 Policies in place for women empowerment include the Girl’s and Young Women’s Empowerment Framework (2014), Economic Empowerment Policy58 and the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset)59 policy. Specifically, the Girl’s and Young Women’s Empowerment Framework60 was launched to guide stakeholders in implementing empowerment measures and eliminating all forms of discrimination and harmful practices against girls and young women. The framework recognises that empowering girls and young women contributes to their development, and to the future economic and political development of the nation. Women’s empowerment and independence ultimately expands women’s freedom to participate in politics and decision-making institutions. Affirmative action practices have also been used to improve women’s access to productive resources, capital, employment, and affordable and quality education. In the Public Service Commission affirmative action measures have engendered and improved women representation and participation in policy formulation and implementation within the government. Resultantly, the Public Service Commission has achieved a 30 per cent representation of women in all senior managerial posts in the civil service, while Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) has increased its percentage of women receiving loans to above 30 per cent.61 Similarly, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development facilitated an affirmative action measure requiring 30 per cent of women’s participation in tourism and mining sectors.62 These efforts emulate article 9 of the African Women’s Rights Protocol, and they remain crucial in uplifting the standards of women and ensuring women representation in public life. Through various affirmative action practices, girls have been prioritised in universities and colleges, and in allocation of resources. Universities relax entry requirements for women in highly sought degree programmes such as law, engineering and medicine, which used to be predominantly pursued by men. Affirmative action measures resulted in improved enrolments for women in the education system, and key disciplines. In 2015, national enrolment rate at secondary school level was at 45.9 per cent for females and 43.1 per cent for males.63 In addition, 40.7 per cent are female students in technical 57 National Gender Policy (as above). See section 3(3) of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act Chapter 14:33. 59 ZimAsset is the ‘economic blueprint’ set to revive the fortunes of Zimbabwe between 2013 and 2018. 60 See The Girls and Women’s Empowerment Framework, 2014. 61 Gender Links (n 14 above) 49. 62 Gender Links (as above). 63 ZimStats Women and men in Zimbabwe Report 2013 (2013). 58