Amnesty International claims that female demonstrators can be subjected to arbitrary arrest, beatings and in some cases torture in police custody. The human rights group, which interviewed dozens of activists, urged the country's authorities to "stamp out any discrimination against women". Zimbabwe is in the grip of a severe economic crisis. Shops are running out of even the most basic items and inflation is approaching 5,000%.

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In Zimbabwe, the majority of human rights activists are women. Women fight for rights because they are often the ones who struggle to feed their children, pay for school fees and for healthcare. Even these basic necessities have become increasingly unaffordable to most households in the country’s ever deeper economic, social and political crisis. Men live on average for 37 years but life expectancy for women is worse at just 34 years - among the lowest in the world.

Zimbabwe’s women activists confront the government demanding respect and protection of human rights. They take part in peaceful marches and meetings, mainly as part of women’s and human rights organizations. In the last seven years, however, the government has become increasingly intolerant of critics of its policies.

The police's widespread use of excessive force, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention of government critics has been backed by the government. Particularly targeted are human rights activists, trade unionists, media workers, NGO workers, lawyers, students, the political opposition and other perceived opponents. Since 2005, hundreds of women protesters have been arbitrarily arrested and detained for engaging or attempting to engage in peaceful protests. Whilst in police custody, most women interviewed by Amnesty International had been subjected to beatings and other ill-treatment. Many suffer further abuse because they are women, including sexist verbal abuse and derogatory accusations.