Back to Index

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
June 26, 2007

Over the years, ZLHR has been commemorating the 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. "This is a day on which we pay our respects to those who have endured the unimaginable. This is an occasion for the world to speak up against the unspeakable. It is long overdue that a day be dedicated to remembering and supporting the many victims and survivors of torture around the world" remarked the immediate past UN Secretary General Koffi Annan. Torture has become a perpetual concern in Zimbabwe and ZLHR has repeatedly called for the ratification of the Covenant Against Torture (CAT), its optional protocols and the respect for rights of the people of Zimbabwe. In 2006, Zimbabweans witnessed the increased and widespread practices of torture in places of detention against human rights defenders (HRDS) and legitimate political activists. The year 2007, has seen further systematic and targeted acts of torture with increased impunity and acquiescence from government and ruling party officials.

ZLHR's concerns over the years remain unaddressed and yet again call upon the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe to ratify and domesticate all necessary international and regional treaties outlawing torture and make a public commitment towards the combating of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment or punishment. ZLHR further notes that whilst the Government of Zimbabwe has tabled Constitutional Amendment No. 18 aimed among other things to set up a Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, there is need to nurture and create an enabling environment including but not limited to the repeal of laws such as Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which have sponsored the cultivation of torture of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe.

ZLHR further calls upon the government:

• to acknowledge the problem of torture and take steps in combating torture
• respect the right of accused persons to be treated with dignity and not be subjected to torture
• acknowledge and respect the right of detained HRDs to access to and assistance of a lawyer and medical attention in cases where it is required.
• acknowledge and respect the rights of accused persons and HRDs particularly their right to freedom from torture and degrading treatment as espoused in Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• the Minister of Home Affairs and the Attorney General should publicly announce measures taken by the Government of Zimbabwe to investigate the alleged cases of torture, the status and progress of measures taken

Visit the ZLHR fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP