| |
Back to Index
Statement by the civil society organizations that are participating
in the Government led consultations on the universal periodic review
mechanism
Zimbabwean
Civil Society Organisations
February 09, 2011
We, the Civil
Society Organisations (CSOs) represented at this Government-led
consultation on the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (UPR), being
conducted in preparation for the review of Zimbabwe in October 2011,
remain greatly apprehensive by the following pertinent issues that
have occurred and are occurring with the potential of affecting
our full undivided participation at this forum.
We have since
been alerted of four cases in which CSOs have been subjected to
different attacks by state actors. It is worrying to note that although
these incidents are not isolated cases but there seems to be growing
pattern/ trend of incessant attacks on CSOs despite the fact that
the work and the role of CSOs as Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) is
recognised within the United Nations human rights system which gives
the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) the mandate to operate
and facilitate these consultations.
Although CSOs
are genuinely willing to engage with the Government of Zimbabwe
(GoZ) in a transparent process on issues to do with human rights,
some of the GoZ delegates who are present here have decided to utter
insulting disparaging words against CSOs in general from the onset
of this process thereby offending the CSOs who are present at this
forum. This has been done despite the fact that the CSOs here present
have been willing to engage with the GoZ in this Zimbabwe UPR foundational
process and are here at the specific instance and invitation of
GoZ.
We, the CSOs
present at Troutbeck Inn, Nyanga on this 9th day of February 2011,
are of the considered view that since this is a UN human rights
sponsored event and all the organisations participating here are
well established in the communities that we serve, we remain deeply
committed to fostering a culture of human rights in our country,
Zimbabwe, despite the persistent unwarranted attacks by some state
actors.
We, the CSOs
present at this forum unequivocally remain committed to interact
with the GoZ to produce a credible and factual report on the UPR
of Zimbabwe. We therefore urge and encourage the GoZ to be sincere
in this process and respect, promote and protect the norms and standards
that are enunciated in the United Nations Declaration on the Right
and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society
to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ 53/144) which categorically
amongst other things stipulates that;
- States must
protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental
freedoms by adopting such steps as may be necessary to create
all conditions necessary in the social, economic, political and
other fields, as well as the legal guarantees required to ensure
that all persons under its jurisdiction, individually and in association
with others, are able to enjoy all those rights and freedoms in
practice.
- Everyone
has the right, individually and in association with others, to
participate in peaceful activities against violations of human
rights and fundamental freedoms.
- The State
shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by
the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association
with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto
or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary
action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the
rights referred to in the Declaration.
- In this
connection, everyone is entitled, individually and in association
with others, to be protected effectively under national law in
reacting against or opposing, through peaceful means, activities
and acts, including those by omission, attributable to States
that result in violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
as well as acts of violence perpetrated by groups or individuals
that affect the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Signed:
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
|
