ZimRights

Our vision
To develop a culture of human rights among individuals and all sectors of society in Zimbabwe.

Our mission
To promote, protect and defend human rights in Zimbabwe in order to empower people through networking, education programmes, publications, legal aid and lobbying.

• Promoting (through a deliberate outreach programme) human rights for all people regardless of status.
• Assisting the marginilised sectors of the community by providing them with relevant education and information in order to assert their rights and seek improvement of their living conditions.
• Acting as a voice of the voiceless, the oppressed and the disadvantaged groups and aiming at empowering all citizens to be active participants in a democratic society.
• Carrying out research into injustices and the underlying causes of these and finding a remedy through documentation and recommendations based on established facts.
• Lobbying the Zimbabwe Government to commit itself to good governance through ratifying important international human rights instruments and to rededicate itself to its commitment to observe, protect and respect human rights and dignity of the individual through constantly reminding it of its international obligations.
• Co-operating with other human rights organisations locally, regionally and internationally who are striving to advance the cause of human rights.

Programmes and projects
ZimRights strives to achieve these objectives through programmes and projects.

Human Rights Education Programme
Education is an overall output of the Association. Education activities involve:

• Workshops: to introduce the concepts of human rights, targeting ZimRights members, community leaders, members of grassroots organisations, government officials, schools etc.
• Civic Education Programme: uses community theatre to enhance human rights awareness. Plays have been developed and these are performed in different communities, thus stimulating discussions about civic issues.

Democracy and good governance
The fundamental freedoms in the society which allow the citizens to enjoy peace and justice, are most effectively managed by political democracy and observance of human rights. ZimRights Education Programmes are therefore very informative regarding the rights and obligations of citizens upholding civic virtues. The Programmes also promote tolerance amongst citizens, respect for human rights and gender equality.

Election monitoring and voter education
ZimRights respects the electoral processes as a significant element in the democratic transition. Citizens should participate choosing leaders that represent them. Through Voter Education, people acquire and are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes associated with casting votes in a free and fair election.

Information dissemination
ZimRights produces a newsletter aiming to raise human rights issues and to link the membership as a strategy to promote human rights in Zimbabwe. The newsletter enhances the watchdog and advocacy role that the Association has to play. The Newsletter is widely distributed locally, in the sub-region and amongst international organisations. Information is also disseminated through the mainstream media through press releases. On specific issues, information is developed for target audiences. However the Association is still developing its documentation unit.

Economic and Social Rights Outreach Programme (ESROP)
The Programme uses a holistic approach strategy to help the marginilised, homeless, urban and rural poor identify human rights violations and educate this target group about their rights. Build advocacy and lobbying skills so that the target group can lobby and advocate for change of policies affecting their lives. This will be done through research and possibly file test cases with the High Court for the sole purpose of realising the economic, social and cultural rights of the target group.

The main thrust of the programme is to research, publish economic and social and cultural rights conditions in Zimbabwe, hold workshops and disseminate information on findings of reach and to promote dialogue between marginilised rural and urban communities with policy makers.

Within all Programmes run by ZimRights the gender issue is mainstreamed.

Structure
The Association has a new structure whose base is at community level. At community level, members elect Local Committees who monitor and take action at local level. At provincial level, the members are organised through their Regional Councils elected from Local Committees. At National Level, there is a National Council who is elected by the Annual General Meeting. The Annual general Meeting is the supreme organ of the Association.

Between Annual General Meetings the National Council is responsible for the Association. The National Council is supported by working committees. These are Executive Committee of Council, and Finance and Audit and Evaluation Committee. There is an Advisory Board who gives advice on broad policy issues and assists the Association in its fund raising initiatives. The Advisory Board is composed of prominent citizens confirmed at the AGM by the membership.

ZimRights has a Secretariat which is the implementing arm. It is responsible for co-ordinating educational activities, publications, case work, networking and implementing decisions of the National Council. The Secretariat is headed by an Executive Director and its head office is in Harare. At provincial level, the Secretariat operates through regional offices headed by Regional Officers or Field Officers. Regional offices are found in Bulawayo, Masving, KweKwe, Mutare and Marondera. The Field Officers responsible for Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Chitungwiza and Harare are based at the head office.

Legal Aid Unit
ZimRights offers legal advice and assistance with special emphasis on human rights test cases and public interest case litigation, ie using the law to enforce human rights. ZimRights has also taken up the challenge to create capacity for: (a) human rights training and monitoring of strategic law making and enforcement agencies; (b) advocacy for pro human rights law reform; (c) providing human rights legal services to members, including referral and information.

Research and documentation
ZimRights is developing a human rights resource library. The library will house as much human rights material as possible and will be made available to researchers, university students, ZimRights members and anyone interested in human rights information. The organisation also gathers documentation from its field officers on human rights issues they are handling at community level, for publication.

ZimRights is currently researching women’s access to land along with several other research projects through its various programmes.

ZimRights Offices
Head Office
ZimRights House
Cnr 4^th St/Baines Ave
Harare
Zimbabwe
Telephone (263) (04) 707278, 705898
Fax (263) (04) 707277
email: zimright@samara.co.zw

Bulawayo
Edge House
39 Fife Street
PO Box 3153
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe
Telephone/Fax (263) (09) 68315
email: zmrtsbyo@acasia.samara.co.zw

Manicaland
Suite 7
2^nd Floor ZIMNAT House
Herbert Chitepo Street
P. Bag 7014
Mutare
Zimbabwe
Telephone (263) (020) 61337, 67446
Fax (263) (020) 64349
email: manright@samara.co.zw

Mashonaland East
13 First Street
Marondera
Telephone (263) (079) 21397
Fax (263) (079) 24468

Masvingo
11 Hofmeyer Street
Masvingo
Telephone/Fax (263) (039) 62769

Midlands
7 Third Street
PO Box 1389
Kwekwe
Telephone (263) (055) 22640, 21700   TOP