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Civil
society organisations applaud and endorse the UN assessment of Zimbabwe's
Human Rights situation
Zimbabwean Civil Society Organisations
June 06, 2012
We, the undersigned
Zimbabwe Civic Society Organisations (CSOs), note and endorse the
report issued
by the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Madam
Navanethem Pillay, at the end of her recent five-day visit to Zimbabwe.
The momentous visit by
the High Commissioner, at the invitation of the Government of Zimbabwe,
was an ideal opportunity for her to meet and interact with the various
stakeholders involved in the promotion and protection of human rights,
in order to make an informed assessment of the situation on the
ground.
Although the government,
through the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs attempted to frustrate
our efforts to meet with the High Commissioner, we are encouraged
by her ingenuous assessment and the recommendations which she proffered.
Her findings prove that
Zimbabwe is suffering from a democracy and human rights deficit
and vindicate what Zimbabwe's civil society organisations
have previously indicated and brought to the attention of the government
on several occasions but which government has refused to acknowledge
and appears to treat with contempt.
The High Commissioner's
lucid statement is an indictment of government authorities who attempted
to stage-manage the whole process by taking the UN High Commissioner
through a guided tour to meet people who gave a sugar-coated account
of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
The onus now lies with
the government to reflect and carry out self-introspection and implement
the UN's recommendations and promote the full enjoyment of
human rights for all.
In light of the judicious
assessment of the Zimbabwe Media and Electoral Commissions by the
UN, we call for the implementation of genuine reforms in the media
and electoral system to be a priority. Thirty three years after
independence, systematic violations of fundamental rights continue
unabated in Zimbabwe while the lives of human rights defenders remain
under threat, due to the restrictive and oppressive operating environment.
We urge the government
to immediately cease its practice of 'rule by law',
where the State arrests, intimidates and persecutes people using
archaic and oppressive laws that have no place in a democratic society.
We urge the government
to fully implement all the recommendations it accepted during its
Universal Periodic Review. In fact, we call on the government to
expeditiously repeal archaic, draconian and repressive laws that
curtail the enjoyment of freedoms of expression, association and
assembly; recognise the work of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and
fully implement provisions of the 1998 United Nations Declaration
on Human Rights Defenders; expedite the ratification of the Convention
Against Torture; take all measures necessary to ensure that the
forthcoming referendum and elections are peaceful, free and fair
and end politically motivated violence.
We implore the Government
of Zimbabwe to reform state security institutions. These institutions,
which have become openly partisan, especially during elections,
swearing their allegiance to one political party while being responsible
for human rights violations, must be reformed and become professional..
Lastly, we urge the UN
to maintain a permanent presence in and focus on Zimbabwe, watching
over the protection of human rights of all Zimbabweans through setting
up a UN Human Rights Monitoring office.
ENDORSED BY;
Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust
Bulawayo Agenda
Bulawayo Progressive
Residents Association
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe
Combined Harare
Residents Association
Commercial Farmers Union
Counselling Services
Unit
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition
Evangelical Fellowship
of Zimbabwe
Gays and Lesbians
of Zimbabwe
General Agriculture
and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe
Law Society of
Zimbabwe
Matabeleland Constitutional Reform Agenda
Media Institute
of Southern Africa
Media Monitoring
Project of Zimbabwe
Musasa Project
National Association
of Non Governmental Organisations
National Association
of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped
National Constitutional
Assembly
National Youth
Development Trust
Progressive Teachers
Union of Zimbabwe
Research and Advocacy
Unit
Student Solidarity
Trust
Women and Law
In Southern Africa
Women's
Coalition of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Association
for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender
Zimbabwe Association
of Doctors for Human Rights
Zimbabwe Civic
Education Trust
Zimbabwe Coalition
on Debt and Development
Zimbabwe Congress
of Trade Unions
Zimbabwe Council
of Churches
Zimbabwe Election
Support Network
Zimbabwe Human
Rights Association
Zimbabwe Human
Rights NGO Forum
Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights
Zimbabwe Peace
Project
Zimbabwe United Residents Trust
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