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About Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is a not for profit human rights
organization whose core objective is to foster a culture of human rights in Zimbabwe as
well as to encourage the growth and strengthening of human rights at all levels of
Zimbabwean society through observance of the rule of law. ZLHR is committed to
upholding respect for the rule of law and the unimpeded administration of justice, free
and fair elections, the free flow of information and the protection of constitutional rights
and freedoms in Zimbabwe and the surrounding region. It keeps these values central in
its programming activities.
ZLHR is a national membership organization consisting of around 170 lawyers and law
students, who voluntarily associate, pay a membership fee and carry out human rights
promotion and protection activities due to their interest in human rights and the rule of
law. A Secretariat of 16 people, 9 of whom are lawyers, are employed full time to
implement the organization’s objectives and the policy decisions of a Board of 11
members elected by, and reporting to, the general membership at an Annual General
Meeting. ZLHR holds Observer Status with the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), forms the Secretariat of the Human Rights Committee of the
SADC Lawyers Association, and has affiliate status with the International Commission of
Jurists (ICJ).
ZLHR’s aims and objectives are:
1. To strive to protect, promote, deepen and broaden the human rights provisions
in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
2. To strive for the implementation and protection in Zimbabwe of international
human rights norms as contained in important sub-regional, regional and
international human rights instruments.
3. To strive for the adoption of a Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Charter on Human Rights and to develop and/or strengthen the
implementing mechanisms.
4. To endeavour to find common ground with and to work alongside other
Zimbabwean groups, organisations, activists and persons who share a broadly
similar concern for and interest in human rights.
5. To liaise and work with other human rights groups wherever situated but
particularly in Southern Africa, and especially those closely linked to the legal
profession.
6. To do all other things necessary to promote and protect human rights, the rule
of law and separation of powers in Zimbabwe and the region.