The Commission Newsletter, August 31, 2017 Page 7 For Human Dignity FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION (FAQ) What is the ZHRC and what does it do? Response The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is the National Human Rights Institution for Zimbabwe that was initially created by section 100R of the former Constitution and is now established by Chapter 12 of the Constitution as one of the Independent Commissions supporting democracy in Zimbabwe. Its purpose is to promote, protect and enforce human rights and fundamental or basic freedoms provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe (in particular, in Chapter 4 known as the Declaration of Rights) and various international agreements on human rights which Zimbabwe has signed and ratified. It also protects people from abuse of power and maladministration by State institutions and State officials. In this regard, the Commission has taken over the work of the Public Protector ’s Office (previously known as the Ombudsman’s Office) which was abolished in 2013 with ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HEAD OFFICE NORTHERN REGION OFFICE 144 Samora Machel Avenue Harare Telephone: +263 4 700 705/ 700 710 / 700 495 / 700 498 / 701 811 / 703 616 / 703 596 SOUTHERN REGION OFFICE 49 JN Nkomo Street (between 3rd & 4th Avenue) Bulawayo Telephone: + 263 9 64170-3 E-mail: zhrc2012@gmail.com info@zhrc.org.zw the adoption of the current Constitution. Section 243 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Act outline the functions of the ZHRC. We’re found Also find usalso on our website: www.zhrc.org.zw on Facebook! Tools for monitoring older persons’ homes now in place T h e Zimbabwe Human R i g h t s Commission (ZHRC) w ill soon begin visiting older persons’ homes in line with section 243(k) (i) of t h e Constitution of Zimbabwe w h i c h mandates it to monitor and inspect prisons, places of detention, refugee camps and related facilities, thanks to support from one of its Development Partners. The Constitution provides for the rights of older persons, over the age of 70 years. Section 51, in particular, provides for the right to human dignity which should be respected and protected. ZHRC held an engagement meeting with v a r i o u s stakeholders on 7 June 2017, to develop tools for monitoring old people’s homes. A total of 12 participants (six males and six females) including r e p r e s e n ta t i ve s from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social W elfare, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and UNDP attended the meeting. The stakeholders assisted the ZHRC in capturing pertinent issues affecting older persons in homes, in the drafting of the tools. At the end of the meeting, ZHRC agreed to incorporate the contribution from stakeholders and to continue to collaborate following monitoring missions to the old people’s homes. The monitoring visits to older persons’ homes by ZHRC were long overdue although the Commission has been to places of detention and mental health institutions as part of its constitutional monitoring mandate.