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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2002 Presidential & Harare Municipal elections - Index of articles
Statement
on Zimbabwe
Commonwealth
Human Rights Initiative
January 18, 2002
The Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative has for many months now expressed its ongoing concern
about the developing crisis in Zimbabwe, and urged the immediate suspension
of the Mugabe regime from the Commonwealth. Continuing political intimidation
and the progressive decline of living standards for most Zimbabweans,
show no sign of diminishing in the run-up to the presidential election
on 9 and 10 March, 2002. The forced closure of safe houses run by Amani
Trust, for victims of torture and terror, indicates the depths to which
the country has descended. Commonwealth action is now imperative and we
urgently request that the following undertakings be made:
- A stay of imposition
of discriminatory legislation recently passed by the Zimbabwe Parliament,
which threatens press freedom and the fair conduct of the election.
- The honouring of
President Mugabe's promise to invite international election observers,
and the arrival as soon as possible of long-term observers.
- An announcement
by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, at its meeting on 30 January,
that an election result which is deemed not to represent the wishes
of the Zimbabwean people will not be recognised, and will lead to Commonwealth
sanctions against those associated with a fraudulent victory.
- Humanitarian relief
for Zimbabweans, particularly in rural areas and high-density suburbs,
who are now suffering from hunger and the collapse of medical services.
- An allocation of
funding by the British Government, in a Commonwealth escrow account,
to be held pending a just and equitable land reform in Zimbabwe.
- A plan by Commonwealth
leaders to meet the different scenarios which may follow the March presidential
election.
As the premier non-governmental
coalition in the Commonwealth concerned to uphold and promote human rights,
the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative stands ready to assist the people
of Zimbabwe and other international partners in the task of rebuilding
Zimbabwe.
Richard Bourne, Chair,
Trustee Committee, United Kingdom
Note on CHRI
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is an international, independent,
non-partisan, non-governmental organisation that works towards the practical
realisation of human rights throughout the Commonwealth. CHRI was founded
in 1987 and has its headquarters in New Delhi, India and offices in London,
United Kingdom and Accra, Ghana.
CHRI's objectives are to promote awareness of and adherence to the Harare
Commonwealth Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other internationally recognised human rights instruments, as well as domestic
instruments supporting human rights in the Commonwealth member states.
Through its biennial CHOGM reports and periodic fact finding missions CHRI
continually draws attention to progress and setbacks in human rights in
Commonwealth countries. In advocating for approaches and measures to prevent
human rights abuses, CHRI addresses the Commonwealth Secretariat, member-state
governments and civil society associations. By holding workshops and developing
linkages, CHRI's approach throughout is to act as a catalyst for activity
around its priority concerns.
For more information:
Email chri@sas.ac.uk
Website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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