UPR Info

Embark on an efficient strategy and remedies to end the lack of decent housing or resettlements for internally displaced persons from Marange region

Stop all forced evictions, develop and implement guidelines which comply with international human rights law

Take concrete and effective measures to ensure that food, medicine and other humanitarian relief distribution at Government depots takes place without reference to partisan political considerations

Adopt necessary measures to guarantee the full enjoyment of the rights to freedom of assembly and association, and should not selectively curtail the full enjoyment of these rights, and by reforming the provisions contained in the Public Order and Security Act and more specifically in the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which occasionally have hindered the work of human rights defenders. Rescind the provision contained in Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure Code that can extend to 7 days (in addition to the first 48 hours) the time that security forces can keep a person detained before bringing charges

Guarantee freedom of expression for the entire population, especially journalists and human rights defenders, in the run up of the next presidential elections

Take steps to foster a pluralistic media environment, this should include fully implementing reform as stipulated in the GPA and liberalise airwaves and allow for private ownership of radio and TV stations

Take immediate steps to guarantee freedom of assembly and association through alignment of national legislation, in particular, the Public Order and Security Act with international standards

Review and amend the public Order and Security Act and the Private Voluntary Organisation Act that impose considerable restrictions to the work of human rights defenders in order to bring them into line with the international standards and respect for freedom of association

Ensure that human rights defenders, independent journalists or lawyers and civil society representatives are effectively protected from any form of intimidation and harassment while performing their legitimate duties

Uphold its international obligations to respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and cease arrests, harassment, and detention of individuals with different views

Take immediate steps to fully implement the commitment on bringing about reforms to ensure that the electoral process and the legislative framework are in line with international standards and in particular to address concerns with regard the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the accuracy of the current voter roll

Investigate and prosecute those responsible for the unlawful acts of harassment of human rights defenders, namely NGO workers and other members of civil society, and take steps to incorporate and enforce the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

Amend existing rules for the security forces, including the Public Order and Security Act, to ensure that the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of press can be exercised

Facilitate the process to amend or rescind the Public Order and Security Act, in so that regulations on this matter are compatible with the international human rights instruments, and to safeguard the freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly

Ensure an environment where freedom of expression is respected and amend national laws to strengthen this right

Stop the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of human rights violations against civil society activists, NGOs and human rights defenders and incorporate the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in national legislation

Ensure that freedom of speech and of the press is not further restricted as a result of the Interception of Communications Act

Repeal or substantially amend the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), the Miscellaneous Offences Act (MOA), and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) to bring them in line with Zimbabwe's international human rights obligations

Align its national legislation with international standards to uphold freedom of assembly and association

Amend its legislation, including the Public Order and Security Act, to enshrine the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and to freedom of expression

Amend the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Privacy Act

Implement fully the Global Political Agreement, including those articles relating to the security of persons and prevention of violence, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association

Repeal or significantly reform the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and criminal code provisions that restrict freedoms of assembly and expression

Fully implement the Global Political Agreement (GPA) provisions supporting the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee

Amend or repeal the Public Order and Security Act

Take all measures necessary to ensure that the forthcoming presidential elections are peaceful, free and fair and that the right to freedom of assembly is fully respected

Recognize the right to assembly of members of non-political groups by ensuring that such groups do not have to notify the police in advance of any gathering as currently required by the Schedule to the Public Order and Security Act

Embark on a reform of the judiciary to ensure its independence and impartiality

Take the necessary measures so that all allegations of human rights violations are duly investigated and that the perpetrators are brought to justice

Implement legal reform to ensure an independent Prosecuting Authority promoting effectiveness, impartiality and fairness of prosecutors in criminal proceedings