Aug 2, 2014 | Multimedia items, News, Video clips
Women judges, lawyers and human rights defenders from across Africa participated in ICJ Colloquia on “Women Lawyers and Human Rights Defenders: Challenges and Opportunities” on 30 and 31 July in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The colloquia were hosted in collaboration and partnership with the Gender Committee of the SADC Lawyers Association, the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
It enabled over 40 women lawyers, human rights defenders and judges to come together to identify the challenges faced by women lawyers and human rights defenders and elaborate action steps.
Discussions also addressed the role of the judiciary in advancing gender equality, women’s access to justice and protection of women human rights defenders.
The Colloquia are part of an ICJ multi-year initiative on women judges, lawyers and human rights defenders as agents of change.
Interviews:
Justice Martha Koome (Kenya)
Justice Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza (Uganda)
Doo Aphane (Swaziland)
Jane Serwanga (Kenya)
Apr 4, 2014 | News
The Judicial Service Commission of Zimbabwe and the ICJ are holding a first-term symposium for Judges from Zimbabwe at Elephant Hills, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on 4-5 April 2014.
Jun 19, 2013 | Multimedia items, News, Video clips
Okay Machisa is the National Director of Zimrights, one of Zimbabwe’s leading human rights organizations, supported by the ICJ. Listen to his video interview.
Jun 10, 2013 | Agendas, Events
On Friday 7 June 2013, the ICJ convened a parallel event during the Human Rights Council’s 23rd regular session held in Geneva.
The event, held in Room IX of the Palais des Nations, addressed key issues concerning past and present challenges to the rule of law in Zimbabwe in the context of the upcoming elections and the need for the international community to remain vigilant about the necessity for free, fair and peaceful elections in the country. The event was chaired by Martin Okumu-Masiga, Deputy Director of the ICJ’s Africa Regional Programme. Panelists were MacDonald Lewanika, Director of Crisis Coalition; Okay Machisa, Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association; and Irene Petras, Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections before the end of 2013. Past elections in the country have been marred by violence and attacks on human rights defenders and the rule of law more generally. In the period leading to the 2013 elections, there have been several incidents of crackdown on political dissents and independent voices. The impunity enjoyed by past and current perpetrators electoral violence has continued to exacerbate fears for the integrity, peaceful conduct and fairness of the upcoming elections.
Zimbabwe-HR Council side event on elections in Zimbabwe-event-2013 (event flyer in pdf)
ICJ draws attention to risks of violence in the forthcoming general elections in Zimbabwe
Mar 25, 2013 | News
Beatrice Mtetwa was eventually released today after mounting pressure from human rights groups and legal bodies, including the ICJ.
High Court Judge Joseph Musakwa finally decided to grant bail to Beatrice Mtetwa, under three conditions: that she deposits $500, that she resides at the given address and that she does not interfere with the ongoing investigations.
The ICJ believes that the politically-motivated harassment against Mtetwa is a threat to the legal profession in Zimbabwe – intended to alarm lawyers and intimidate them from providing independent representation.
Beatrice Mtetwa was arrested after attempting to come to the aid of her clients, Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde, Anna Muzvidziwa and Worship Dumba, all MDC-T members, the opposition party.
The government has cracked down hard on dissidents as Zimbabwe approaches presidential elections.
