Introduction
The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN) conducted an Assets and Needs Assessment for Human Rights Defenders in Zimbabwe (the assessment or ANA) between May and September 2020. The assessment occurred during and was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated national lockdown measures.
The process adopted the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders’ definition of HRDs. The declaration defines HRDs as individuals or groups collectively working towards the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms contributing to “… the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples and individuals.”
The following constituted the Zimbabwe HRDs ANA objectives:
- To conduct a detailed assessment in selected cities on the situation of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe with regards to access to support mechanisms and services, identifying the risk and protective factors to enhance their safety and security.
- To assess the level of availability and quality of relevant services provided by human rights defenders-oriented organisations and other relevant service providers in the field of human rights defenders’ protection.
- Identify possibilities for coordinating service provision at the national level and at the regional level to avoid duplication and working in silos.
- Define the best approach for strengthening and offering integrated preventive, protective and reintegration services and improving access to mechanisms, systems and services at the local level.
- To identify the institutions and actors which have a direct and indirect influence on the situation of human right defenders at risk and which SAHRDN will leverage in order to swiftly coordinate rapid protection services
Read the full report here(7MB PDF)
Source: Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
