As Democracy Advocates: Women HRDs 31 people had been bussed to the venue to disrupt the meeting. These people had also been provided alcohol to embolden them. The women HRDs were told to follow proper Ndau protocol by the youths and not behave like “the gay snakes from Harare”. They were advised that the Chief of the area had to be invited, that they should sing the national anthem, and then commemorate every national hero before having the meeting. As they tried to leave, the youths blocked all the exit points, locked the gate, and threatened the security guard with assault if he opened the gate to allow the women HRDs out. The youths threatened to make the women HRDs statistics like all the other victims. They also wanted to set their vehicle on fire and threatened to murder the women HRDs. The lawyers and the participants eventually managed to escape after another ZLHR lawyer arrived in the company of police officers. These select cases on freedom of assembly and association handled by lawyers and members of ZLHR provide a shocking picture of the operating environment for women HRDs in Zimbabwe and the abuse to which they have been consistently subjected. There has been an overt intensification of repression by key state actors, and also some non-state actors, against women HRDs over the years, particularly during periods immediately before, during and after elections. This growing tendency to restrict political and social space has been consolidated with startling impunity, selective application of the law, and the continued promulgation of laws that inhibit the enjoyment, promotion and protection of fundamental rights by women HRDs. The accounts of the arrests, harassment, conditions of detention, assaults and torture exemplify the typical treatment meted out to women HRDs in Zimbabwe when they attempt to assert their rights, as well as the culture of impunity and disrespect by the law enforcement agents for the fundamental rights of the people they are obliged by law to protect. As can be seen from these cases, convictions are never secured by the state. This has confirmed the perception that laws are being used in Zimbabwe as a tool of persecution rather than of prosecution. Participation in governance, voting and being voted into office The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is a network established in 2000, with members drawn from civil society organisations (CSOs) that are involved in election related activities aimed at promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe. Under the leadership of Rindai Chipfunde-Vava, over the years ZESN has observed electoral processes in Zimbabwe and has also successfully implemented programmes to enhance the capacity of women to participate in electoral processes. This capacity building has been provided to women across the political divide. During a training held from 18–19 August 2014 on Gender and Elections, women representatives from political parties, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and civil society came together to discuss issues pertaining to women’s participation in elections. It was also an opportunity to strengthen relationships between women from political parties, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and CSOs working on women’s issues. Women who participated were capacitated on various election related thematic areas such as principles underpinning good electoral administration, women and the media, women in Parliament, gender responsive governance, and challenges and barriers encountered by women. Although ZESN has recorded successes such as the co-operation highlighted above, its officers have also been subject to harassment as a result of their work in promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe. The organisation’s offices have been raided, some staff