Denim became more than fashion in Harare on Monday morning—it became a call to action.
At a spirited press briefing held at the Media Centre, the Adult Rape Clinic, in collaboration with Young Africa, the Harare City Health Department, and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, launched the 2025 edition of Denim Day, an international campaign that challenges victim-blaming and champions survivors of sexual violence.
Under the theme “Use Your Voice”, this year’s commemoration carries renewed urgency and boldness in its mission to end gender-based violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe and across the region.
“Denim Day reminds us that sexual violence is never the survivor’s fault—no matter what they were wearing,” said Marceline Mukwamba, Director of the Adult Rape Clinic. “This is not just about raising awareness for one day. It’s about building a society that listens, protects, and empowers survivors.”
Denim Day was born out of global outrage in 1998 after Italy’s Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction, arguing the survivor’s tight jeans implied consent.
Since then, the campaign has become a rallying point for survivor solidarity and a sharp rebuke of judicial and societal failure to protect the vulnerable.
The event also showcased the strength of cross-sector collaboration.
In a powerful address, Dorien Beurskens, CEO and Co-Founder of Young Africa, highlighted the organisation’s Skills2Live Project—an initiative reaching over 29,000 youth with integrated skills training, entrepreneurship, life skills, and sexual and reproductive health education.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight sexual violence,” Beurskens said. “When young people especially young women are equipped with skills and confidence, they can break the cycle of poverty and abuse.”
Backed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in both Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the Skills2Live project aims to reach over 34,000 young people by its conclusion.
Early results are promising: 70% of graduates are economically active, and over 98% report feeling more confident about their future and their ability to openly discuss sexual and reproductive health.
Representatives from Harare City Health and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission also pledged their commitment, underscoring the need for institutional support and policy change.
The campaign has also drawn in youth and community-led organisations, with the shared goal of creating safe, inclusive spaces at all levels of society.
Mukwaamba closed the press briefing with a call to action aimed directly at the media and the broader public.
“Let’s shift the narrative,” she urged. “Let us centre survivors in our stories, highlight resilience, and use our platforms to drive national conversations that lead to real action.”
In a country grappling with entrenched gender inequality and underreported cases of sexual violence, Denim Day 2025 stands not just as a moment of solidarity but as a movement demanding transformation.
As the nation dons denim this week, the message is clear: silence is complicity. It’s time to speak up. It’s time to use your voice.
Denim day is a day of action and awareness in which people are encouraged to wear denim every last Wednesday of April each year to combat victim blaming and educate others about sexual violence.