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The
human rights defenders' situation in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
November 13, 2008
Zimbabwe lawyers
for human rights cautiously noted the signing of the Government
of National Unity agreement
on the 15th of September 2008 as a possible political solution to
the decade long humanitarian and human rights crisis in Zimbabwe.
We however noted with disappointment that the agreement between
the three major political parties involved neither the ordinary
people nor civil society actors, thus depriving the people of Zimbabwe
a say in the issues affecting their own lives.
Our understanding was that the GNU was meant to usher in a new era
of tolerance, restoration of rule of law, respect for human rights
and freedoms, and in particular, the freedoms of assembly, association
and expression.
ZLHR is alarmed
by reports of renewed cases of politically motivated violence and
intimidation; and that there are further reports of arbitrary arrests,
illegal detentions and torture of human rights defenders, including
youths and women by state authorities. Recent cases include, but
are not limited to:
- The arbitrary
arrests and illegal detention of members of Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) who were carrying out a peaceful
demonstration against the deteriorating socio-economic conditions;
- Also the
separate arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of Women's
Coalition of Zimbabwe who were also demonstrating against
the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country;
- Further the
arrest of student members of the Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU) who were protesting against
the collapse of service delivery system at state universities
and tertiary institutions
ZLHR deplores
these arrests as they are clearly contrary to the spirit and intent
of the GNU agreement and exhibit an unacceptable pattern of intolerance
and repression by the Government of Zimbabwe against its own people
of;
ZLHR must therefore express its grave concern at the fact that the
authorities in Zimbabwe continue to exercise repressive behaviour
and continue to take measures which render the situation of human
rights defenders untenable and which serve to further escalate the
current political crisis;
We call upon
the African Commission to:
- Adopt a
resolution enjoining the AU and SADC, as guarantors of the GNU
Agreement, to ensure the good faith implementation of the agreement;
- Call upon
the AU and SADC to impress upon the Zimbabwean authorities to
take effective measures to stop all forms of politically motivated
violence and allow for free political activity, including the
opening up of space for the media and civil society.
- Specifically
facilitate the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to
set guidelines and concrete processes for engagement with the
Zimbabwean government in regards to the systematic and specific
targeting of women human rights defenders.
- Urge the
government to repeal repressive legislation which impede and/limit
freedoms and which is used to clamped down on activities of human
rights defenders, such as the Access
to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the
Public Order
and Security Act ( POSA).
- To remind
Zimbabwe of its obligations to regional and international instruments
and its current violation of the rights of women human rights
defenders and young human rights defenders in relation to continued
detentions, threats intimidations and also gender-based violence
and to guarantee women human rights defenders and young human
rights defenders their right to freedom of assembly, association,
expression and participation in political processes without fear
of persecution.
Visit the ZLHR
fact
sheet
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