The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has called on government to criminalise abductions and enforced disappearances as spelt out by the country’s constitution.
In a statement to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the human rights lobby group said government should ratify the United Nations International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
“While in Section 53, the Costitution expressly outlaws torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the lack of legislation that criminalises abduction and enforced disappearances has created a gap in domestic law and fuelled impunity,” ZLHR said.
The United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) describes enforced disappearance as the abduction, arrest and detention of a person against their will by government officials or individuals acting on behalf of the government.
While Zimbabwe is yet to sign and ratify the ICPPED, the day comes at a time when there has been a significant rise in the number of reported cases of enforced disappearance, particularly targeting government critics in the recent past.
“This buttresses the urgent need for Zimbabwean authorities to create a legal framework to prevent the commission of the grave human rights violation, including providing redress for victims and survivors,” said ZLHR.
According to ZLHR, there is also a need to implement “real and practical measures to hold perpetrators accountable and provide access to justice to victims and their families.”
“ZLHR calls upon both state and non-state actors including government to take effective measures to prevent enforced disappearances, and hold those responsible to account,” ZLHR said.
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