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ZimRights welcomes Human Rights Commission Act
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
October 15, 2012

View this article on the ZimRights website

Zimbabwe Human Rights Association welcomes Friday 12 October's passing of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Bill into law. The gazetted Act brings about the long awaited operationalization of the institution which took approximately three years in making.

Despite the Commission having its own shortcomings, we are confident that its existence will take Zimbabwe a level up in the fight for the protection and promotion of human rights. Among a range of its duties, the commission will be investigating and deciding on human rights violations. It will have the freedom to work together with state and non-state institutions for the good of the people. According to the Act, the commission will also be responsible for visiting and inspecting prisons, places of detention, refugee camps and related facilities in order to ascertain the condition under which inmates are kept.

Commissioners were appointed in December 2009. It is our hope that the board will try its best in terms of complying with the UN guidelines on indicators of effective functioning of domestic human rights commissions and institutions. Some of the elements include: independence; defined jurisdiction, accessibility; co-operation; operational efficiency and accountability. It is also important to note that a human rights commission which does not meet the requirements as set out in the Paris Principles will not be properly recognised in regional and international circles such as the African Union and the United Nations. This requires, therefore, that serious attention be paid to ensuring compliance with the Paris Principles so that the ZHRC can participate in and benefit fully from interaction with its peers in the region and globally.

The development is also positive and commendable especially taking into account the endless talk of elections nowadays. It may have an impact regarding stamping out of violence, at the same time adding chances of having a credible free and fair election.

Visit the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) fact sheet

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