10.3 International Agreements and Treaties Thematic Working Group In 2016 the International Agreements and Treaties TWG was mainly involved in one activity which is the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). This was in light of the fact that Zimbabwe was due for the 2nd cycle review session on the 2nd of November 2016. Owing to limited resources the Commission failed to submit a UPR report to the Human Rights Council (HRC) in March 2016. In as much as ZHRC had missed this deadline it still showed commitment to draft this report in October 2016 when resources permitted. The TWG held a consultative meeting to foster dialogue on the UPR and to consolidate stakeholder input into the ZHRC UPR report. Thus, the outcome of the meeting was a shared understanding of the UPR process and the adoption of the ZHRC UPR with proposed amendments. From the 3rd to the 7th of October 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland, ZHRC attended the presession to the UPR. The session was attended by CSOs and from United Nations member states. The pre-session meeting program included a training on effective UPR reporting and presentation. Furthermore, NGOs from different countries got an opportunity to present on human rights trends in their countries in light of the fact that they are not provided a slot to present during the review session of their countries. 10.4 Thematic Work Group on Special Interests Groups During the period under review the Special Interests Group TWG in February 2016 held a planning meeting where member organisations came together and brainstormed on possible activities to be carried out in 2016. In the following month the TWG held a follow up meeting to develop a work plan for 2016 as well as developing a workplan of activities for the year. The TWG’s priority theme for 2016 was ‘rights of indigenous persons’. In pursuance of the theme, in June 2016 the TWG carried out an assessment of the human rights situational analysis of an indigenous minority community known as the San Community in Tsholotsho. To improve the capacity of Human rights officers in the TWG, a human rights officer took part in an Advanced Human Rights Course on Rights of Indigenous People which was held at University of Pretoria in South Africa. 10.5 Environment Thematic Working Group The Constitution of Zimbabwe has a provision for the protection of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. In this regard, the ZHRC has established the Environment Thematic Working Group (ETWG). The following persons and institutions comprise the ETWG: • Mr. A. Matiza, the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate • Mrs. S. Mwandiyambira, Program Officer in the Zimbabwe Council of Churches • Mr. N. Manyeruke, Chairperson of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the National University of Science & Technology • Mr. M. Dhliwayo, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association. • Mr. T.N.T. Paskwavaviri, the Acting Chief Government Mining Engineer in the Mininstry of Mines and Mining Development, • Mr. D. Matyanga, a Senior Manager in the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, • Mr. L. Muradzi, the Chief Agricultural Extension Specialist (Land Use & Planning) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation, • Mr. M. Mtetwa, the Deputy Director for Protecting, Promoting and Enforcing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 39