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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Press statement from DCI-Zimbabwe regarding the drafting of the
new constitution of Zimbabwe
Defence for Children International - Zimbabwe
May 09, 2012
DCI-Zimbabwe
applauds the drafting
of the new constitution by the team of drafters from all the
Governing political parties for the work they have done. We now
kindly ask them to swiftly deal with disputed issues and submit
the draft to the second stakeholders' conference to allow
people to practice their democratic rights by taking part in the
preparation of this democratic constitution.
Promoting
Children's Rights in Zimbabwe
Our general
objective is to develop the human rights agenda in Zimbabwe as it
relates to children by using a rights based approach to strengthen
international child protection advocacy systems, policies and mechanisms
which have been established to provide services for children whose
rights have been violated in Zimbabwe.
DCI-Zimbabwe
will continue to engage policy makers on the issues to do with this
constitution and the protection of children in Zimbabwe.
DCI-Zimbabwe
recognize that the work carried out by the civic society in demanding
a new constitution has paid dividends as we see some of our demands
are reflected in the draft. We welcome in particular the following
positive inclusions:
- Section 2.9
and 2.10 which are providing for the protection of the children.
- Justifiable
rights, including socio-economic rights
- Prohibition
of violence and discrimination against women on the basis of customary
law
- Down-grading
the Attorney- General to legal advisor of the government and establishment
of an independent prosecuting authority
- Requirements
for all public officers to declare all their assets at regular
intervals
- De-politicisation
of the public service, judiciary, and security sector
- Amendment
of the constitution only by means of a referendum
We regret the
omission of the following provision of the draft:
- Lack of
mention of the maximum age of criminal responsibility on children
in conflict with the law.
DCI-Zimbabwe
will be watching and will not stand by and allow politicians to
hold children's safety hostage for the sake of their political
survival by delaying the completion of the new constitution.
DCI-Zimbabwe
call on members of the press to realize that this a pivotal moment
in our history and should report responsibly on content and process
without using provocative statements that will promote violence
against women and children. To political parties and their political
activists this is the best time to show our children what democracy
is all about by allowing the smooth completion of the draft constitution,
allow people to go to a referendum and come up with our own home
grown constitution. Zimbabweans children and women are peace loving
and need a time that they will once again enjoy their independence
and freedom. It is our hope that the new constitution will bring
a new era of dignity, respect and tolerance.
We look forward
to the Second All-Stakeholders' Conference which will provide
feedback to the drafting team and recommend changes/ alterations
before the final draft is presented to parliament and gazetted as
law. We call upon all donor agencies and the UN to maintain their
support to see this process achieve its intended results.
DCI-Zimbabwe
is aware that a constitution by itself cannot bring about sanity
but political will to implement the constitution will promote the
sanity. DCI-Zimbabwe commits to taking all appropriate measures
to ensure that the new constitution reflects the will of the people
of Zimbabwe and that it also promotes the best interest of the child.
Visit the Defence
for Children International Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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