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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Operation Murambatsvina - Countrywide evictions of urban poor - Index of articles
The
African Union should denounce serious human rights violations
International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) & Zimbabwe Human Rights Association
(Zimrights)
June
13, 2005
The International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its affiliate in Zimbabwe,
the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights) condemn strongly
the large-scale forced evictions and repression under "Operation
Restore Order", conducted by Zimbabwean government, under the
pretext of "cleaning up the country", for the past three
weeks.
It is reported
that more than 200,000 people have been forcibly evicted from their
allegedly illegal homes in a violent crackdown on shanty towns throughout
the country. It is also reported that evictions have been carried
out unlawfully and with excessive force. This operation has resulted
in the loss of livelihoods for hundreds of thousands who are already
face a deep economic crisis and food shortage. Furthermore, more
than 24,000 people have been arbitrarely arrested during the operation.
These actions
constitute blatant violations of several human rights instruments
ratified by Zimbabwe, including the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights which prohibits forced evictions (Article
11), and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The FIDH
and Zimrights consider that this operation amounts to inhuman and
degrading treatment which is prohibited by the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
In that respect,
the FIDH and Zimrights are concerned about the decision of the High
court of Zimbabwe ruling that the evictions were justified by the
fact that the residents had breached their lease agreements and
had failed to construct structures with City Council approval. Regrettably,
the Court did not adress the fulfillement of the requirements of
a spoliation order. This decision has now given judicial permission
to the patently illegal conduct of the government by refusing to
offer judicial protection to the victims of the forced evictions.
Both organisations are therefore supporting the appeal lodged with
the Supreme Court by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights notably
raising the violation of rights as protected in the Declaration
of Rights in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The FIDH and
Zimrights have been denouncing for years the repression of political
opponents and human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, as well as violations
of economic and social rights directly resulting from the Zimbabwean
government’s policies.
The FIDH and
Zimrights welcome the declaration of the Special Rapporteur on Housing
Rights of June 3, as well as the Declaration of the European Union
on June 6,
2005 condemning the actions undertaken by the Zimbabwean government.
Furthermore,
the FIDH and Zimrights call on the African Union to condemn the
Human Rights violations taking place in Zimbabwe and urge the Zimbabwean
government to immediately halt the unlawful arrests and destruction
and to provide assistance and legal protection to those displaced.
The FIDH and
Zimrights are calling on the African Commission on Human and People’s
Rights not to hold its upcoming session in Zimbabwe.
Visit the ZimRights
fact sheet
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