Human Rights Defenders Under Siege

From the introduction

This report explains the context in which the legislation has been introduced, charting in particular the government’s escalating repression of the political opposition, the independent media and civil society. In light of Zimbabwe’s human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (
ICCPR), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international standards to which Zimbabwe is a party, the report examines how provisions of the Broadcasting Services Act, the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Private Voluntary Organisations Act and the Labour Relations Amendment Act have been used to suppress and violate internationally recognised rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

The report documents the Zimbabwe government’s escalating repression of civil society, and looks in particular at how organisations and individuals that are critical of the government’s human rights record or that mobilise peaceful public demonstrations have become key targets of this repression. The report contains recommendations to the Zimbabwean government for action to protect human rights defenders. Specifically, Amnesty International is calling for the repeal of all legislation that violates internationally recognised human rights and undermines the work of human rights defenders, and an end to state harassment of human rights defenders.

Amnesty International has repeatedly expressed serious concern about government harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and the misuse of national legislation to suppress freedoms of expression, association and assembly and silence dissent in Zimbabwe. Amnesty International believes that this campaign of repression is aimed at curtailing the activities of human rights defenders and preventing the investigation, documentation and reporting of human rights violations. Amnesty International has noted with concern the unrelenting nature of the government’s repression of human rights defenders, including numerous recent incidents arbitrary arrests, serious assaults and intimidation.

Human rights defenders are entitled to enjoy the rights and freedoms recognised in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the ICCPR and the African Charter, and the protection of the national law. They should be free to carry out their human rights activities, without interference. Their work must be protected and supported, rather than restricted, because of the vital contribution they make to any community, at any stage of social or political development.

The report contains recommendations to the Zimbabwean government for action to protect the human rights of all Zimbabweans.