Yale Human Rights and Development Journal, Vol. 7 [2004], Iss. 1, Art. 4 2004] Zimbabwean Human Rights Crisis " The human rights and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe is characterised by, inter alia: serious food shortages, massive job losses, collapse of public health delivery services, an increase in the HIV/AIDS pandemic, political violence, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, arbitrary detention, attacks on human rights defenders, systematic violence against women, forceful indoctrination, repressive legislation, attacks upon the independence of the judiciary, the politicisation of state institutions such as the police, denial of freedom of expression and association, partisan distribution of food aid and the resultant exodus of Zimbabwean refugees; " The Government of Zimbabwe is indoctrinating and militarizing the youth and children in militia camps where they are subjected to sexual abuse including rape, sodomy and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, [sic] " These human rights violations undermine the objectives established in the Harare Declaration, the African Union Constitutive Act and the NEPAD framework on democracy, good governance, human rights and development; " The perpetrators of human rights violations in Zimbabwe are overwhelmingly government officials, agents and state-sponsored militias. While criminal responsibility lies with individual government officials, agents and militias general responsibility for these violations lies with the Zimbabwean government; The human rights and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe affects the entire African continent and must be addressed as a matter of urgency by African states and institutions, with the involvement of local and regional civil society groups. THE MEETING RESOLVES AND DEMANDS: 1. THAT the government of Zimbabwe: " Immediately restores the rule of law and ensures the immediate end to all human rights violations in the country; * Holds all perpetrators of serious human rights abuses accountable for their actions, including being criminally prosecuted where their actions constitute crimes under domestic and/or international law; " Distributes food and food aid in a non-partisan and equitable manner and full access for local and international humanitarian agencies is guaranteed; http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/yhrdlj/vol7/iss1/4 22