Commissions Watch 7/2017 ZHRC International Human Rights Day
12 Dec 2017
COMMISSIONS WATCH 7/2017
ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
[12th December 2017]
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY COMMEMORATIONS
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission hosted the International Human Rights Day
Commemorations on Friday the 8th of December 2017. The event was held at Takashinga Cricket Club
in Highfield. International Human Rights Day is celebrated each year on 10 December globally since
1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Mr Elasto Mugwadi delivered a speech during the
ceremony.
Having acknowledge distinguished guests and welcomed all those present:
“It is an honour for me to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Zimbabwe Human Rights
Commission (ZHRC) and on my own personal behalf at this very important occasion to celebrate
the International Human Rights Day. Allow me to heartily acknowledge and welcome our newly
appointed Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi
who is the Guest of Honour at this commemorative event. May I also acknowledge the
presence amidst us, of Honourable Miriam Chikukwa, the Provincial Minister for Harare
Metropolitan Province, as well as distinguished guests from the Diplomatic Corps, Development
Partners, Government Ministries, Civil Society Organisations, Highfield community and other
stakeholders represented at this important function.
International Human Rights Day is commemorated globally each year on the 10th of December
since 1948, when the United Nations General Assembly recognised the importance of human
rights through the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) soon after
the end of the Second World War. The atrocities committed during the Second World War
included the massacre of about 6 million Jews, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki in Japan,horrendous genocide involving prisoners of war, airial bombardment of
civilians and mass rape of women and girls and all other kinds of horrific violations of human
rights too ghastly to contemplate.
In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and
interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as International Human Rights
Day. This year’s International Human Rights Day commemoration is significant to all those who
value human rights as it marks the beginning of year-long celebrations marking the 70th
anniversary of the UDHR. Unfortunately, violations of the different rights recognised in the
UDHR continue to be experienced worldwide that the need to promote, protect and enforce
human rights is even greater than ever before.
This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme “#StandUp4HumanRights” which
calls for all of us to stand up against human rights violations and abuses. As you may be aware,