(i) BACKGROUND AND AIM OF CONSULTANCY Zimbabwe is coming up for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Universal Periodic Review (UPR) 2nd cycle in 2016. The aim is to conduct a study on censorship legislation and practices in Zimbabwe, with the purpose of submitting a UPR report to the UN Human Rights Council in January 2016 including recommendations to the Zimbabwean Government and relevant authorities. It is hoped the study will influence the current legislation and censorship practices in Zimbabwe and serve as an indicator of good practice for network partners and human rights organisations in Zimbabwe and across the African creative sector.(ii) Objectives 1. To analyse and describe provisions, articles and paragraphs in current legislation in Zimbabwe restricting and/or guaranteeing artistic freedom of expression (music, film, literature, theatre, visual arts etc.) including the production, publishing, distribution and access to take part in cultural activities). 2. To analyse and describe mechanisms and practices of (pre and post) censorship boards and authorities (such as police, institutions, syndicates, state-controlled media/broadcasting, universities etc.) regulating artistic freedom including description and analysis of existing complaints mechanisms and transparency of the decisions and work of such boards. The study shall include specific restrictions and regulations applied to cultural products and artists from other countries. 3. To describe and discuss typical examples of pre and post censorship and decisions made by censorship boards and/or authorities with regard to artistic freedom. 4. To analyse and describe Zimbabwe’s ratification in practice and theory of international conventions and covenants promoting and defending artistic freedom and discuss issues related to Zimbabwe’s ratifications and reservations of these specifically: 5 | Page