NGOs urge Commonwealth to remain engaged with Zimbabwe

By Tererai Karimakwenda
23 November 2005

On November 20th and 21st, human rights activists from across the Commonwealth met in Valletta, Malta, for the second Commonwealth Human Rights Forum. Their meeting was just days prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 25th to 27th and they made several recommendations for the heads of state to consider. Zimbabwe was one of 3 countries discussed specifically for its human rights abuses, along with Uganda and The Maldives.

Members of human rights non-governmental organizations, National Human Rights Institutions and other civil society actors participated in the meeting, as well as a representative of the Commonwealth Secretariat as observer. The participants recommended the Commonwealth continue dialogue with the Zimbabwean government, as it did in Nigeria and South Africa during their suspension and withdrawal periods, and not
abandon the people of Zimbabwe. They urged that Heads of State of SADC countries in particular demand greater adherence to human rights norms by the Zimbabwean government.

In addition, participants recommended that civil society should provide support and solidarity to human rights defenders and other civil society groups in other Commonwealth countries and Zimbabwe. They should also publicise their efforts to advocate on human rights issues within the
Commonwealth, and monitor the implementation of Commonwealth commitments by member states.

A full statement by the Commonwealth Human Rights Forum can be found here