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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Zimbabwe rights abuses nearing 'crime against humanity': report

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] Torture and other human rights abuses in Zimbabwe have become so commonplace that they constitute a crime against humanity, according to a study for the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) prepared by Tony Reeler of the Harare-based Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU). Reeler synthesized data collected by numerous human rights organizations and found that regardless of the methodology employed, each group reached the same result: torture and other forms of intimidation are widespread and apparently sanctioned by the state. The study notes that the abuse has declined since a power-sharing agreement was reached between the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), but that the institutionalization of abuse is an impediment to reaching a lasting peace in the country. The RAU study follows a similar report issued last week by Amnesty International (AI). That report found that Zimbabwe is still experiencing serious human rights violations, such as the arrest and detention of human rights activists, and needs to confront issues that led to such problems. Last month, a Zimbabwe court released 15 human rights activists on bail, including activist and journalist Jestina Mukoko. Mukoko, the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), was indicted with others for allegedly planning a coup against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. After being held without charges from December through March and allegedly tortured, Mukoko was hospitalized for the treatment of injuries sustained while in custody. While detained, it was reported that Mukoko was forced to ingest poison, sparking a world-wide protest against Zimbabwean police tactics.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on June 22, 2009 (boomark / email).