Our commitment to foster a culture of human rights at all levels of Zimbabwean society continued to define our work in 2016. We were not immune to the ever-deteriorating economic environment and political uncertainties that gripped the country. However, our dedicated team of lawyers continued to intervene, offering legal support to our many beneficiaries from different social and political backgrounds, who often exhibited great courage in defending the Constitution and asserting and demanding respect for their rights and fundamental freedoms. A decrease in financial resources, as experienced throughout the private and non-governmental sector, did not bypass ZLHR. Together with constrained human resources, this inevitably led to longer working hours and a tightening of purse strings; however, this did not deter our team, which remained enthusiastic, committed and able to support individuals and communities who became increasingly active against bad governance practices and louder in calling for sweeping reforms that would contribute to the democratisation of the country. As individuals and communities became more vocal in calling for political and economic reforms, state actors largely maintained and entrenched their control, leading to an increase in repression and violations and thus a greater demand for our legal services. Representation of human rights defenders multiplied to unprecedented levels between July and September 2016, with lawyers successfully representing hundreds of individuals who were arrested around the country on suspicion of having participated in escalating nationwide protests. Throughout the year, our interventions were not just reactive, to the prevailing social, economic and political dynamics but also proactive. We worked towards becoming more accessible to vulnerable and marginalised communities who are the primary and overwhelming majority of victims or those most at risk of having their social, economic and civil rights violated. Community outreaches in the form of mobile legal clinics that attracted beneficiaries from diverse social, economic and political backgrounds were rolled out around the country. Unlike in previous years, over 60% of our beneficiaries were from the southern region with increased focus on Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces. Participants benefitted from the provision of legal aid, as well as sensitisation on the Constitution and their rights. These clinics, apart from growing in popularity across the political divide, have also provided opportunities for evidence-based analysis of key issues affecting communities that can be taken up by way of public interest litigation. The three offices in Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo also remained open throughout the year receiving walk-in clients who increasingly sought legal aid. Of major concern to urban dwellers was the disregard ZLHR Annual Report 2016  6WDWHPHQWIURP&KDLUSHUVRQDQG([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRU 3