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Zim NGO Bill: dangerous for human rights defenders
Betrays High Degree of Gvt Paranoia and Contempt For the Regional and International Community
Arnold Tsunga and Tafadzwa Mugabe, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
July 28, 2004

General Comments on the Bill, NGOs and Hrds
The intended Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) bill of 2004 in its present format constitutes a grave abrogation by the government of Zimbabwe of its responsibilities to the citizens of Zimbabwe as well as its obligation to the regional and international community. The NGO bill is meant to strangle activities of human rights defenders (hrds) in general. Hrds are usually employees of NGOs or use NGOs as a vehicle or mechanism to achieve their goals of promoting and protecting human rights. It follows that the real targets of attack by the government of Zimbabwe in contemplating such an obnoxious piece of legislation are the hrds themselves. Over the last few years the international community has increasingly acknowledged the important role that hrds play in the realisation of all human rights be they economic, social and cultural rights or civil and political rights. The international community has identified hrds as anyone who acts to address any human right or rights on behalf of individuals or groups. This is the core business of NGOs and their employees. In this context the international community has generally accepted that in the realisation of all human rights the NGOs and hrds play a critical role. The range of hrds is so wide that it includes people covering a wide spectrum of issues such as lobby activities against arbitrary arrest, detention, summary executions, organised violence and torture, female genital mutilation, forced eviction, electoral issues, prisoners rights, access to health care, children's rights, fighting against illiteracy, fighting against hunger and starvation, fighting for environmental protection, to fighting against HIV/AIDS.

The strange paradox is that hrds in every region of the world but mainly in dictatorial and undemocratic states where they are needed most have become themselves the targets of well orchestrated, systematic and sustained persecution and reprisals at the hands of the state or appendages acting with the acquiescence of the state. The persecutions have taken many forms including torture, executions, threats (of death or arrests), harassment, defamation and character assassination in the State controlled media, false arrests, detention, false trials, arbitrary searches, administrative punishments and restrictions in the enjoyment of the universally recognised rights and fundamental freedoms such as the right to freedom of expression, assembly, association, movement and in many instances protection of the law as the law is applied selectively. The persecution of hrds is normally targeted at the hrds themselves or their organisations mainly NGOs, Churches, Law Firms or Societies, the Judiciary, Media Houses, Trade Unions or other professional bodies promoting and protecting human rights such as the Medical Profession.

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