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Human
Rights Commission - Civil Society Organizations meets government
National
Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in Zimbabwe (NANGO)
September 29, 2006
THE CIVIL SOCIETY
organisations under the umbrella body of National Association of
Non-Governmental Organizations [NANGO]
met government representatives from 21 to 23 September 2006 in Kariba
for consultations
on the establishment of the contentious Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
(ZHRC).
The NANGO Board Vice Chairperson, Mr. J. Chitekuteku led the civil
society delegation in the deliberations highlighting the prevailing
human rights environment in the country. The United Nations Development
Programme [UNDP] organized the meeting with Prof. Walter Kamba,
former University
of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor as the facilitator.
The civil society representatives agreed to meet the government
officials as part of its 2006 National Annual NGO Conference resolution
of constructive dialogue, engagement and facts based advocacy with
key stakeholders. The strategy of engagement is informed by the
civil society’s adopted social agenda framework, which emphasise
dialogue as one of the crucial link to national development.
Civil society
fears
The civil
society-government meeting agreed to use the internationally recognized
Paris Principles (see attached) as the guiding framework and benchmark
for the development of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. The NANGO
led-team expressed the sector’s fears with respect to the establishment
of the Commission in light of the continued existence of repressive
laws such as the Public
Order and Security Act [POSA] and Access
to Information and Private Protection Act [AIPPA], which curtail
the rights of citizens.
The civil society’s cautious approach is anchored in fear of creating
an illusionary remedial institution, which will be ineffective given
the current operating environment.
Government
perspective
According
to government officials, the ZHRC will ensure increased conformity
with various international human rights treaties, to which Zimbabwe
is a signatory and "will ensure promotion, protection and effective
enforcement of human rights". The commission will also assist
the government in preparing country reports required by the UN treaty
bodies.
However, the Kariba meeting deliberated on the context and nature
of civil society organisations and government relationships pertaining
to human rights.
Joint
statement
In a joint statement, the NANGO Board Vice Chairperson Mr Chitekuteku
and the Ministry of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary, Mr
D. Mangota expressed the need to find "problem areas and to make
proposals for the improvement of such relationships in ensuring an
environment that is conducive for continued collaboration between
government and the civil society organisations".
Visit the NANGO fact
sheet
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