Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now!
Statement on the International Human Rights Day
10 December 2024
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) joins the world in commemorating the International Human Rights Day. This day is celebrated annually around the world on 10 December in recognition of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
This year’s global theme is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” which brings out the urgency of advancing human rights awareness, advancing citizen agency, and strengthening the human rights movement for dignity and equality. This important day is a call to action for addressing critical human rights challenges in our nation.
Every year, International Human Rights Day is marked by different festivities around the world. At ZimRights, we use this day, together with the International Human Rights Defenders Day we commemorated yesterday, to reflect on the state of human rights in the country, in our communities and recognise the good work that communities are doing to address these human rights challenges.
Zimbabwe continues to grapple with widespread systemic human rights challenges in all facets, civil and political, social and economic. The right to free expression, association, and peaceful assembly remains under threat and the past year has been particularly tough for Zimbabwe as we have witnessed instances of arbitrary arrests, prolonged pretrial detentions, abductions, and the use of restrictive laws to stifle dissent. It is the year when the Parliament of Zimbabwe passed the controversial Private Voluntary Organisations Bill (PVO Bill) which now awaits Presidential assent. It is the year when the ruling party has indicated its intention to amend the Constitution to allow the current President to remain in power until 2030. The President has indicated he is unwilling to proceed with such an amendment.
These developments in our context indicate to us the continuing human rights challenges that we need to continue confronting as a nation. For our part, we salute the resilience that the people of Zimbabwe have shown in standing up for their rights and defending the Constitution. We have seen in the ending year, thousands of our members use the People’s Human Rights Manifesto to demand accountability from their leaders and push back on anti-rights policies. We have seen the demand for the repeal of the Vagrancy Act through the Protection of Vulnerable Communities Campaign.
We also reflect on the role that independent commissions play in advancing human rights, recognising that the work of human rights requires more collaboration.
During this commemorative season, we will be holding a number of activities to honour this spirit of resilience and collaboration. In honouring the resilience of the communities fighting for their rights, our National Council will honour 12 citizens of Zimbabwe who have worked tirelessly throughout the year for the cause of human rights. These are people whose names you may have never read but in the hiddenness of their communities, they are moving mountains, giving the human rights movement in Zimbabwe the energy it needs to move forward.
We will also launch a special report on Partnerships for Human Rights, acknowledging the important collaborations that make it possible to achieve the important milestones for human rights. We honour the independent commissions and other institutions that have supported our people in difficult human rights times. Finally, we will realise the 2024 State of Civic Space Report together with our partners the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) giving us a moment to reflect on how we can work together to continue protecting the good work that civil society actors are doing.
In this landscape, we affirm our commitment to the promotion and protection of civil and political rights, which are the cornerstone of democracy and human dignity. Through our grassroots campaigns, litigation support, and advocacy, we stand with every Zimbabwean demanding accountability, transparency, and justice.
We align in action with the theme of this year’s commemorations. Our rights, our future, right now. We continue to call on all stakeholders to take the question of human rights with the urgency that it deserves.
Calls to Action
To the Government of Zimbabwe:
Immediately align all laws with the Constitution, ensuring full compliance with the Bill of Rights, particularly on freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
Cease the use of excessive force and arbitrary arrests against human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.
We appeal to the President of Zimbabwe not to sign the PVO Bill, but instead, advise the Parliament of Zimbabwe to establish an Inclusive Civic Space Roundtable to provide support towards a nation-building approach to protection of the civic space.
To Civil Society and Media:
Strengthen collaborative efforts to document and report human rights violations, ensuring transparency and accountability.
To Citizens:
Remain resolute and resilient in defending human rights making effective use of the human rights protection mechanisms provided by our constitution like the independent commissions
To the independent commissions
Defend and protect your independence and independent commissions, and strengthen efforts to collaborate with communities that depend on you to find redress to human rights violations.
To the international community
Continue your solidarity efforts, standing together with all the marginalised and oppressed communities, bring global attention to human rights issues that are many times ignored or forgotten. Your solidarity helps the people regain their voice and magnify their issues. It gives courage and strength.
Our rights, our future, right now. Together, we can ensure that the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights becomes a lived reality for all.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
December 10, 2024