On the 23rd of October 2019, Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) attended a Parliament of Zimbabwe 2020 Budget Consultation convened jointly by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development and Thematic Committee on SDGs on the 2020 Zimbabwe National Budget on SDGs.
In the meeting, MIHR submitted a written submission where several recommendations were made on the SDGs being prioritized by Zimbabwe. Among other recommendations, MIHR recommended on SDG 4 on Target: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.
Part of the MIHR recommendations was that government “Avail funding for free access to sanitary pads by children in school”
MIHR is pleased that the government of Zimbabwe took these recommendations seriously because on the 14th of November 2019 when Zimbabwe Minister of Finance and Economic Development announced the 2020 National Budget Statement, he announced that the government has availed ZWL$200 million towards provision of free sanitary pads for rural primary and secondary students from Grade 4 to Upper 6.
MIHR acknowledges that there are other stakeholders that could have contributed to this success story but the organization has visible contribution on the mentioned issue.
MATABELELAND INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 
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