Report of the 2014 International Human Rights Day Commemorations - 10th December 2014 Amphitheatre, Bulawayo Mrs Verity Nyagah, UNDP Country Director delivers a Message of Solidarity on behalf of the Zimbabwe United Nations Country Team (UNCT), during the International Human Rights Day Commemorations, 10 Dec 2014 The Deputy Chief Justice, who was the Guest of Honour delivered his keynote address, which emphasised the need for every person to protect the rights of marginalised people and ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations were dealt with in terms of the law. His speech also reiterated that full protection and promotion of human rights was required of people in positions of authority and power to uphold every person’s fundamental human rights and freedoms at every level of society. The Deputy Chief Justice also called on society to protect human rights defenders when doing their work. Noting that Zimbabwe was commemorating the International Human Rights Day less than two years since adoption of a new Constitution with a broadened Declaration of Human Rights in Chapter 4, the Deputy Chief Justice remarked that for this reason, the commemorations were an opportunity for everyone to take stock and reflect on the measures Zimbabwe had taken as a country in protecting and promoting fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. In concluding his key note address, the Deputy Chief Justice called upon ZHRC and stakeholders to ensure that commemorations for 2015 are decentralised to remote and underserved areas to promote awareness of fundamental human rights and freedoms in all parts of the country, particularly among marginalised social groups such as women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities and other special interest groups. Solidarity messages from partners and the Guest of Honour’s Key Note Address collectively expressed support for the constitutional obligation of ZHRC to protect, Page 14 of 19