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Mugabe should be held accountable for violations
International Bar Association (IBA)
November 30, 2006

The International Bar Association (IBA)’s Human Rights Institute today condemned the arrest and reported assault of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) by Zimbabwean police.

Several news sources have reported that police attacked and beat members of the rights groups during a peaceful march to mark International Women Human Rights Defenders Day. Initial reports indicate that six of the demonstrators sustained severe injuries, including bone fractures, from police action. One of those injured is said to be an 11-month old child, who suffered a broken limb. More than 40 demonstrators were arrested and are still being held in police custody. Of those detained with the adults, six are infant children.

‘This deliberate and brutal attack on peaceful demonstrators and innocent children violates basic tenets of international human rights law’ said Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association. ‘These latest attacks are part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, orchestrated by the government of Robert Mugabe’ he added. ‘The African Union, all democratic leaders in Africa and, indeed, the international community, have an obligation to hold him and his government accountable for these crimes.’

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