ISHR
Since its last Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Zimbabwe’s human rights situation has greatly deteriorated. The country must urgently implement recommendations on defenders and civic space.
On 1 July 2022, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, presented the outcome of its Universal Periodic Review. Out of the 264 recommendations the government received, it only accepted 168. While several States and NGOs congratulated Zimbabwe on the efforts made to implement measures to improve its education system as well as the rights of people with disabilities in the country, challenges remain when it comes to the enjoyment of freedom of assembly as well as the protection of civic space and human rights defenders.
In a joint statement, ISHR and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights raised our concerns over the shrinking civic and democratic space in the country. Indeed, NGOs and civil society are often denied their rights to peaceful assembly and protest. Moreover, human rights defenders are frequently subject to arbitrary arrest and detention, ill-treatment in custody, and lengthy and abusive sentences.
To improve this situation, ISHR recommends that Zimbabwe:
In addition, several civil society organisations urge Zimbabwe to implement all the recommendations that they received concerning the rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Indeed, the government only accepted 2 out of 12 of those recommendations, which shows a certain lack of political will in that regard.
Civil society spoke of the ongoing human rights crisis in Venezuela this week at the Council making evident that, despite Venezuela’s best efforts to denounce the Fact-Finding Mission, the Mission’s work and that of OHCHR are absolutely essential to victims of violations.
On 22 and 23 March 2023, the Human Rights Council held a general debate on human rights situations requiring the Council’s attention. States and NGOs spoke, and the High Commissioner spoke on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. They drew the Council’s attention to a number of country situations of concern. ISHR delivered a statement, highlighting the human rights situation in four countries: Burkina Faso, Colombia, El Salvador, and Saudi Arabia.
The UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism presented the Human Rights Council with a report noting continued barriers for defenders working on albinism and calling for greater cooperation between civil society groups.
