7. PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 7. PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS A core responsibility of ZHRC as an NHRI is to promote awareness of and respect for human rights and freedoms at all levels of society to contribute towards a universal culture of upholding human rights. The Commission employed various strategies to promote visibility of the Commission and to empower beneficiaries with information to claim their rights. These awareness raising strategies included roadshows, stakeholder engagements, commemorations of key human rights days, participation at exhibitions and production and distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. These awareness and publicity efforts have contributed significantly to the steady increase of cases received by the Commission, which rose to 515 in 2016 compared to 278 cases in 2015. 7.1 Awareness raising through Commemorations of Key Regional and International Human Rights Days ZHRC hosted commemorative events for the Day of the African Child and International Human Rights Day and issued press statements in newspapers and its website in commemoration of International Women’s Day, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence and International Day for People with Disabilities. 24 7.1.1 The Day of the African Child Commemorations, 30 July 2016 Fig 9: The Honourable Child Minister of State for Provincial Affairs (Harare Metropolitan Province), Nathan Zilikilani delivers the keynote speech at the Day of the African Child Commemorations, 30 July 2016 The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated on the 16th of July every year. Belated commemorations for the Day of the African Child (DAC) were held in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages on 30th July 2016. The belated commemorations were held at SOS Children’s Villages in Waterfalls, Harare with children from SOS Bindura and SOS outreach programme in the Protecting, Promoting and Enforcing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms