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ROHR
holds provincial leadership development workshops in Midlands and
Bulawayo
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
May 27, 2009
On Friday 15
and Saturday the 16th of May 2009, Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe
(ROHR) embarked on leadership development workshops in Midlands
and Bulawayo provinces respectively. The two workshops were held
under the banner of capacity building, restructuring and strengthening
community leadership. The meetings which saw the delegates discussing
the Constitution making process, National Healing and the human
rights situation in the country were attended by ROHR Midlands provincial
leadership, representatives from NANGO,
NCA,
ZIMCET,
ZCTU,
Women's
Coalition, political parties and many other civic organizations.
Delegates expressed
growing mistrust in the current government's credibility and
ability to address and lead the critical issues of National Healing
and the Constitutional making process given the continued human
rights violations perpetrated by the state machinery. Human rights
defenders, members of the opposition parties, journalist and lawyers
are still facing prosecution on trumped up charges.
In the eyes
of the people on the ground nothing has changed.
Amongst the
delegates were victims from last year's orgy of state sponsored
violence. The people voiced their disappointment over the Zimbabwe
Republic Police's failure and reluctance to bring their violators
before justice.
Worse still,
is the agony of seeing people who committed bloody crimes still
walking spot free. As a result people in the community are still
hounded by fear of the unknown. Delegates came to the conclusion
that without Truth and Justice there will be no guarantee that those
who committed crimes will not repeat it again.
Some of the
issues raised include:
- Domestication
of International conventions on human rights such as Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) into the new constitution
so that they become legally binding and enforceable.
- An urgent
need for grassroots education on human rights issues for everyone
to actively participate in the constitutional reform process.
- Representation
of women in Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and constitutional
reform process to advocate for women's rights and empowerment.
- De-politicization
of the Youth Training service.
- There is
lack of professionalism and respect for humanity among the police,
army CIO and prison officials hence there is need to educate them
if the national healing process is to take off.
- There cannot
be justice before the truth is said and established.
- Politicians
lack credibility in leading the national healing process since
most of them were involved in political violence witnessed in
the country.
Visit the ROHR
fact
sheet
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