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Statement on torture report 'Over Our Dead Bodies'
Zimbabwe Torture Victims Project (ZTVP)
July 05, 2006

The report "Over Our Dead Bodies" adds to the growing body of evidence showing the problem of state torture in Zimbabwe.
 
This report shows the work of the Zimbabwe Torture Victims Project (ZTVP) which provides medical treatment, psychosocial counselling and legal services to primary victims of organised violence and torture. The project assists Zimbabwean torture survivors from the year 2000 until now who have sought refuge in South Africa. The project is based in Johannesburg at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
 
The new report  was presented to the House of Lords in London on the 26th of June 2006 to commemorate the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
 
The 267 cases analysed in the report show evidence of the perpetration of systematic and organised violence and torture in Zimbabwe, often by state sponsored agents. 45% of victims were tortured by the ruling party, Zanu PF, 27% by police and 22% by state youth militia, whom are often under the age of 18.
 
The most common forms of torture documented in our report, either exclusively or combined, are: severe beating in 72% of cases reported; electric shock in 13% , often on genitals and mouth; and falanga (beating on the soles of ones feet) 7%. Psychological torture involving threats against oneself or families, witnessing of abuse and torture of others, and disappearances are other forms of torture described in the report. These experiences of persecution in Zimbabwe account for many of the difficulties our clients face in terms of being the ‘survivor’, as well as coping with the many hardships they encounter in South Africa.
 
 "Considering that the majority of the Zimbabwean victims were employed prior to coming to South Africa, the data obtained challenges the commonly held belief in South Africa that Zimbabweans are coming into the country in search of employment" said Ahmed Motala, acting director of CSVR. "This report proves that many Zimbabweans are genuinely fleeing persecution and coming south for safety and protection."
 
The majority of ZTVP clients face humanitarian crises because of the difficulties they face in getting legal asylum status with the Department of Home Affairs. Without this vital protection, the already vulnerable victims are exposed to undue levels of stress and are hard-pressed to obtain housing, food and employment.

"It is imperative that the South African Government be true to its human rights commitments, enshrined in its Constitution and international conventions to which it is signatory, and that it expedite access to the asylum determination procedure for Zimbabweans," said Mr Motala.

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