The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

Dear Friends,


Today, 25.5.10 Africa Day is celebrated throughout Africa to commemorate the founding in 1963 of the Organisation of African Unity, which subsequently became the African Union (AU). To mark the day, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum ('the Forum') has today issued a statement noting that the theme of this year's celebrations are around peace and security.


The Forum points out that/ 'the single greatest threat to peace and security across the continent is the unfortunate acceptance by the AU of mediated democracies or settlements as opposed to elected democracies'. /The Statement notes that /' Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar are examples of such porcesses, which have led to the formation of coalition or so-called inclusive governments'/. The Fourm says that 'for as long as Africans are denied their right to fully and freely participate in the government of their countries, there will always be contested leadership, which inevitably has the potential of degenerating into conflict'. Please read the Forum's full statement on our web-site via the following link: http://www.hrforumzim.com/press/africa-day-2010.pdf



Statements and reports on Zimbabwe from other civil society organisations and international bodies include the following items:


On the occasion of Africa Day today, 25.5.10, UN Secretary General, Ban-ki Moon called upon the international community to step up efforts to help Africa attain its potential for peace and sustainable development. His comments can be read on line via the following link:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34797&Cr=africa&Cr1 =#


Following our mailing yesterday and the worrying news of harassment and arrest of staff in our member organisation, Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has today, 25.5.10 issued the attached statement on the persecution of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intergender (LGBTI) people in Zimbabwe. The statement reminds the Inclusive Government that LGBTI's have inalienable freedoms which include freedoms of choice,association and expression.


The regional body of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) isued the attached Zimbabwe Media Alert on 24.5.10 which reports that the Zimbabwe Media Commission is apparently set to begin issuing licences by tomorrow, 26.5.10.

-- International Liaison Office
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4LT
Tel. +44-(0)20-7065 0945
Email: IntLO@hrforumzim.com
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The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has been in existence since January 1998 when non-governmental orgainsiations working in the field of human rights joined together to provide legal and psychological assistance to the victims of the Food Riots of January 1998. The Forum consists of 19 Zimbabwean human rights organisations. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum operates a Research and Documentation Unit and offers legal services through the Public Interest Unit from the Headquarters in Harare, in addition to the information service that is offered internationally from the International Liaison Office. The International Liaison Office of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO in an effort to ensure the widest possible coverage for our reports, constantly updates and adds to the email addresses on our list using member organisations' contact lists or other sources. If you would like to have your name removed from the list, please send an email to zimhrforum@btconnect.com with the word 'unsubscribe' in the subject field.