Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has welcomed the presentation of the country’s State Party Report to the committee on the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) this week.
The presentation was made on Thursday and Friday marking Zimbabwe’s commitment to honouring its reporting obligations under the various Treaty bodies including the ICCPR and the submission of periodic reports.
Zimbabwe’s last report on the ICCPR was submitted in 1997 and considered by the Committee on April 3, 1998 and the next report will be due when the Committee make requests, usually within four to five years.
The ICCPR covers human rights that are fundamental to ensuring the dignity, autonomy, freedom, and well – being of individuals worldwide.
These include the rights to life and physical integrity, freedom from torture and slavery, fair trial and justice, equality and non – discrimination and freedom of expression among others.
In a statement, the ZHRC said it notes the progress made by the government in implementing some of the recommendations arising from observations made by the Committee during the reporting period.
These include the ratification of some key human rights instruments such as the Convention on the Article 40 Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW).
The ZHRC also noted that the enactment of progressive legislation such as the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) which sets the age of consent for minors at 18 years from 16 years, effectively closing the legal gap on the protection of children between ages 16 years and 18 years from sexual abuse and child marriages.
It welcomed the Death Penalty Abolition Act which seeks to preserve the sanctity of life as well as the passing of the Prisons and Correctional Service Act to align to the Constitution of Zimbabwe and other regional and international instruments on the humane treatment of prisoners.
The ZHRC, however, urged the government to ratify key outstanding treaties including the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.
“The ZHRC continues to receive complaints regarding the shrinking civic space during the reporting period arising from the arrests of political activists, human rights defenders, journalists and ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire, who were charged for unlawful gathering and incitement of violence,” it said.
“In addition, the long pre-trial detention periods were also of concern. The above actions point to failure to adhere to international law and the provisions of the Constitution.”
The ZHRC said it noted during its prison inspection visits that conditions in detention did not adhere to the minimum standards as provided for in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules).
Issues of concern relate to crowding in prisons with numbers being 40 percent above the holding capacity of 17 000, inadequate provision of uniforms for inmates, dilapidated cells, limited access to water in some prisons and a monotonous diet which is not in line with the minimum dietary scale.
“The sexual and reproductive health rights of women in prisons is compromised due to limited access to specialist health care services, as well as shortages of sanitary wear and clean water. ZHRC recommends the Government of Zimbabwe to continuously make efforts in promoting the humane treatment of prisoners,” the ZHRC said.
New Ziana
