Protecting, Promoting and Enforcing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom
Promotion of Human Rights [continued]
The Chairperson appeared on television on the 5th of March 2015 on ZTV – Good
Morning Zimbabwe and three live radio programmes were hosted from the 9th to 11th of
March 2015 on Radio Zimbabwe, Star FM and ZiFM respectively. The main event was the
stakeholder engagement commemorative International Women's Day seminar
convened by ZHRC on 13 March 2013. The Deputy Minister for Women's Affairs, Gender
and Community Development was the Guest of Honour. The seminar brought together
various stakeholders from different backgrounds to further raise awareness of the public
on the mandate and work of ZHRC in general and the Thematic Working Group on
Gender Equality and Women's Rights in particular; raise awareness on the importance of
International Women's Rights Day and the rights of women; and facilitate dialogue among
key stake holders to come up with practical steps to ensure effective action for advancing
and recognising women.
7.1.2
Workers' Day Commemorations, 1 May 2015
Again as part of advocacy initiatives and enhancing visibility, ZHRC commemorated
Workers Day on 1 May 2015 by issuing a press statement that was published in the Herald
and Newsday newspapers and subsequently uploaded on the ZHRC website. The press
statement went a long way to publicise the Commission's views on workers' rights by
reiterating that workers' rights are human rights that should be protected, promoted and
enforced through the Constitution. In the press statement, the ZHRC noted with concern
that, due to the prevailing socio - economic environment in the country, workers in the
formal and informal sectors continued to face immense challenges such as involuntary
retrenchments, wages pegged below the poverty datum line and late payment of
salaries. A synopsis of complaints received by the ZHRC demonstrated that labour
related complaints continue to feature prominently.
7.1.3 The Day of the African Child, 16 June 2015
The ZHRC also celebrated the Day of the African Child in 2015 as strategic platforms to
enhance visibility and create increased awareness of human rights and legal issues for
children. In addition to issuing a press release published again in two newspapers, the
Herald and NewsDay and posted on the website, four Interactive Radio Programmes on
Star FM and Radio Zimbabwe were aired.
Furthermore, the Chairperson appeared on the television programme, “Good Morning
Zimbabwe”. The Day of the African Child was commemorated under the theme; “25 Years
after the Adoption of the African Children's Charter: Accelerating our Collective Efforts to
End Child Marriage in Africa”. Zimbabwe has one of the highest child marriage
prevalence rates in Africa. According to the United Nations Population Fund (2000), 31%
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2015
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