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FIDH Human Rights and Globalisation Workshop and 35^th Annual Congress 2-7 March 2004, Quito, Ecuador
Arnold Tsunga, Chairman, ZIMRIGHTS and Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
March 08, 2004

Read the paper presented by Arnold Tsunga at FIDH
Read the FIDH resolutions on Zimbabwe

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) held its 35^th Congress in Quito, Ecuador between 2 March and 7 March 2004. I was invited to attend and asked to deliver a paper during one of the workshops on the Human Rights Defenders situation in Zimbabwe. The FIDH, which was founded in 1922, is the largest world federation of human rights NGOs with 116 affiliates worldwide. The Francophone countries presently dominate it. It has observer status with the African Commission. It has a consultative status with the UNHRC. Those who are familiar with both the UNHRC and the African Commission will know the amount of influence that it wields in both commissions. It has a relationship with another very influential international organization, The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), which is Swiss, based. Together they run the Observatory for Human Rights Defenders and produce joint reports to the UNHRC and the African Commission. These reports are usually taken very seriously by many mechanisms. A total of 400 delegates from about 100 countries were in attendance at the Congress. I was the only Zimbabwean.

Many papers were presented by experts and delegates covering a wide range of issues, some country specific, others thematic, others region specific and others both country and theme specific. The theme of the Congress was Globalisation and Human Rights. Countries that featured prominently in discussions were, Palestine, Israel, The USA, DRC, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Liberia, China, and former Soviet countries. The Middle East as a region dominated debate. The fight against terrorism, its impact on human rights and the USA foreign policy are the themes that also dominated debate. The phenomenon of dictatorial regimes taking advantage of the fight against terrorism as a pretext to clamp down on human rights defenders and political opponents was of grave concern to the congress. I was asked to present a paper on human rights defenders in Zimbabwe on 5 March 2004 and left immediately after my presentation. The topic of presentation was consistent with our lobby and advocacy strategy of the year, which revolves around three related themes namely, Independence of the Judiciary, Freedom of Expression and human rights defenders (in terms of closure of democratic space). I attach hereto a copy of the paper that I delivered. It was well received. I also handed to many delegates the ZLHR annual report on the operating environment of the legal profession in Zimbabwe in 2003. A resolution on the human rights defenders situation in Zimbabwe was adopted by the congress. A copy thereof is also attached hereto for your information. This will be part of the basis for the FIDH lobby and advocacy strategy for the year especially at both the UNHRC and the African Commission. This will tend to simplify and amplify the work of whichever Zimbabwean organization tries to lobby and advocate around these and related issues at both the UNHRC and the African Commission this year.

FIDH carried out a mission to Zimbabwe in 2003 and produced a report. You are urged to read this report. FIDH has carried out more than 1000 international fact finding missions in over 100 countries.

ZIMRIGHTS was granted full affiliate status of the FIDH by the congress.

My observations were that we have not done enough to sensitise African NGOs and civil society on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. There are still grave and worrisome misconceptions about the real problem in Zimbabwe within the African region. More effort is needed in this regard. That is why it is important to attend the Civicus event.

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