Report of the 2014 International Human Rights Day Commemorations - 10th December 2014
Amphitheatre, Bulawayo
various strategic locations around the city a few days prior to the commemorations.
The poster contributed immensely to raising public awareness of the
commemorations and generated interest by the public to attend the event.
In partnership with ZHRC, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZIMRIGHTS)
and the Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BUPRA), played a major part
in mobilising the public to attend the commemorations, reaching out to about two
thousand three hundred (2,300) people who participated in both the procession and
attended the commemorations at the Amphitheatre. In addition, ZIMRIGHTS enlisted
the services of trained marshals who assumed responsibility for crowd control and
helped in maintaining order during the march and throughout the main event at the
Amphitheatre.
ii.
Placards
During the commemorative march/procession, participants held and displayed
placards branded with ZHRC and funding partner logos with various simplified
messages focused on creating awareness of human in the Declaration of Rights
(Chapter 4 of the Constitution), and reflected in Regional and International Treaties,
Agreements and Conventions. The simplified messages on placards were conveyed
in English, Shona and Ndebele. The placards also highlighted topical human rights
issues and concerns that require attention by the state, human rights defenders, civil
society organisations, all sectors of society and the general public at large.
Individually and collectively, the placards contributed to raising awareness of the
mandate and functions of ZHRC.
The placards, branded with logos of the Commission and the Development / Funding
Partners facilitated increased visibility of ZHRC as the lead Institution in the
protection, promotion and enforcement of fundamental human rights and freedoms in
Zimbabwe. Partners playing a complementary role to that of ZHRC in the protection
and promotion of human rights also had their visibility amplified through their
participation and some of them had their own placards. The net result was an
increase in awareness of fundamental human rights and freedoms in their broadest
sense as well as public understanding of UDHR, human rights guaranteed in the
Constitution and national laws that have a bearing on the protection, promotion and
enforcement of human rights in Zimbabwe.
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