26th June 2020
Today, 26th June 2020 marks 33 years since the United Nations Convention Against Torture came into force in 1987 and 23 years since the day was marked for commemoration by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997.
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating this very important day on the human rights calendar.
Torture is often associated with physical action but it is sometimes psychological.
We note with concern that incidents of state sponsored and state sanctioned abductions and torture are on the rise in Zimbabwe with the latest being only a few days ago and ongoing. This is in flagrant disregard for section 53 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which, absolutely, guarantees freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
We take this opportunity to urge the Head of State in Zimbabwe to stop state sponsored or sanctioned abductions for political expedience and to urge the government of Zimbabwe to investigate all cases of abductions and torture that have occurred since independence and to bring the perpetrators to book regardless of their political affiliation.
We also urge the government of Zimbabwe to start upholding and respecting all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
We also urge the government of Zimbabwe to demonstrate the political will to stop abductions and torture by ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
We urge the citizens and residents of Zimbabwe to join us and the Zimbabwe human rights community in our continued fight for human rights in Zimbabwe and to guard their rights jealously in their daily endeavours.
Human rights are everyone’s rights.
Inserted by: –
Information & Publicity Department
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
