Zimbabwe: Unprecedented call for UN and AU action over
evictions by 200 rights groups
As the human rights situation in Zimbabwe steadily deteriorates, with more than
300,000 now evicted from their homes by the government and a UN Special Envoy
appointed to investigate the destruction and evictions, a coalition of more than
200 African and international NGOs today issued an unprecedented Joint Appeal to
the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) to help the people of Zimbabwe.
Strongly condemning the mass forced evictions, the coalition of organizations
urged Nigerian President Obasanjo, as Chair of the AU, to put the crisis in
Zimbabwe on the agenda of the upcoming AU Assembly -- scheduled to take place in
Libya on 4 - 5 July.
The coalition also called on relevant bodies at the UN, including the
Secretary-General, to publicly condemn the ongoing mass violations and take
effective action to stop them.
"The appointment of a UN Special Envoy to investigate the mass violations
taking place in Zimbabwe is welcome," said a representative of the
coalition. "But effective action must also be taken immediately to help
those already sleeping on the streets, beside the rubble of their homes -- and
to ensure that the evictions and demolitions stop immediately."
"The AU and UN simply cannot ignore such an unprecedented, wide-ranging
appeal on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, particularly from African civil
society," said a coalition representative. "African solidarity should
be with the people of Africa -- not their repressive leaders."
Amongst the human rights and civic groups signing the Joint Appeal are
Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights, the Inter Africa Network for Human Rights (AFRONET),
Amnesty International, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), the
International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, and the International
Crisis Group.
For interview requests, please ring the following local coalition contact
numbers:
UN: Tel: +1 212 867 8878 ext 4 or +44 (0)7778472 109
Lagos: Tel: +234 (01) 5550277 / 493560
Johannesburg: Tel: +27 (082) 4112946, +27 (011) 4037746;
+27(082) 5487441
Windhoek: Tel: +264 (0)61 223 356
Cairo: Tel: +20 (0)2 347 4360 or +20 (0) 12 347 5203 or +41 (0)79 503 1485
Harare: Tel: +263 (0)11 209 468 or +263 4 708 118