COPENHAGEN, 2. June (Danish Institute for Human Rights): Double joy in Harare as the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has opened a newly refurbished headquarter and is accredited status ‘A’ by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights has worked with Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) since 2013. Two of our objectives within the partnership is to ensure that ZHRC complies with the United Nations Paris Principles, and that the building infrastructure of ZHRC can facilitate their work. We have now taken a big step forward on these two goals, but there is still more work to be done.
Status ‘A’ with remarks
The status ‘A’ is given to human rights institutions that are in full compliance with the UN Paris Principles, which apply to all National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). But the ZHRC will not rest on their laurels.
The Chairperson of the ZHRC, Commissioner Elasto Mugwadi, said at the official opening the 27th of May: “The status ‘A’ will, however, only stand as such for all future purposes and intents if we can sustain and maintain best practices and standards in our human rights promotion and protection activities”.
Lis Dhundale, Acting Department Director and Adviser at the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), is proud and confident with the newly acquired status:
“ZHCR has worked very hard to live up to the Paris Principles, but they are ambitious and wish to enhance the independence of the commission. The ZHRC was accredited ‘A’ status with several remarks, and they are systematically working on those barriers”
Adopted in 1993 by the United Nations general assembly, the Paris Principles require the NHRIs to live up to six criteria: 1) A broad mandate, based on universal human rights, 2) Autonomy from the government, 3) Independence guaranteed by constitution, 4) Pluralism, 5) Adequate resources and 6) Adequate powers of investigation.
Long awaited headquarter
The new ZHRC-headquarter is situated in the capital Harare and was renovated through a grant of 2.500.000 dollars, administered by DIHR. The Royal Danish Embassy and Royal Norwegian Embassy provided the grant.
When the government of Zimbabwe purchased the building in 2011, it required extensive renovations, since it was initially a restaurant. When DIHR first started supporting ZHRC in May 2013, the commission had no office space to carry out its work, and had to rent different office buildings.
The ZHRC was established in 2010 as one of five independent commissions aimed at supporting democracy in the Zimbabwe. It became operational in June 2014, one year after the cooperation with DIHR started.
DIHR also supports ZHRC in complaints handling and investigations, monitoring and inspections as well as education, promotion and research. Interventions under the program include the training of ZHRC commissioners and staff, stakeholder engagement, awareness campaigns and the investigation of several cases.
