Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Pre-session working group – Zimbabwe 15 The Special Rapporteur on torture has recognised that “[p]regnant women should not be deprived of their liberty unless there are absolutely compelling reasons to do so and their particular vulnerability should be borne in mind.”17 Further, the UN Rules for the treatment of women prisoners (the Bangkok Rules) requires prison officials to allow women caring for children to make arrangements for their care, and specifies that non-custodial sentences for pregnant women and women with dependent children shall be preferred where appropriate.18 Despite this, the Zimbabwe Republic Police have demonstrated total disregard for the rights of arrested and detained women human rights defenders who are pregnant or mothers or carers of young children. Such disregard results in violations of women’s and children’s human rights. Women human rights defenders are also concerned about the welfare of family members, particularly small children, who are often left without care while the mothers are in detention. Women human rights defenders having day-to-day responsibility for care of young children or elderly parents, often find it difficult to continue their human rights work knowing that arrest and detention would prevent them from fulfilling that role in the family. 4.4 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE Amnesty International has recommended to the government of Zimbabwe that it should: Immediately cease all intimidation, arbitrary arrest and torture of women human rights defenders by the police.

Address legitimate concerns raised by women human rights defenders, including reviewing government policies with regard to food security and harassment of informal traders. Invest in the training of officials from the Zimbabwe Republic Police in understanding and responding appropriately to crowd behaviour, and methods of persuasion, negotiation and mediation with a view to limiting the use of force and firearms in line with Basic Principle 20 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Forces and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. In terms of discrimination against women, it would be particularly important that this training include gender sensitivity and obligations surrounding discrimination against women.
Allow detained women human rights defenders access to lawyers, medical care, food and sanitary pads.
In respect of detention of pregnant women, mothers with babies and carers of children, Amnesty International has recommended to the government of Zimbabwe to: 17 Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, to the Human Rights Council, A/HRC/7/3, 2008, para 41. 18 The Bangkok Rules, Rules 2.2 and 64, UN Doc A/RES/65/229, 16 March 2011: available at http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/2010/res%202010-16.pdf (accessed 10 June 2011). Index: AFR 46/014/2011 Amnesty International June 2011