Thabiso Nxumalo
Following the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Zimbabwe by the United Nations on the state of human rights in the country on January 26, 2022 in Geneva, the Troika (decision group) comprising of Armenia, Luxemburg and Namibia delivered the recommendations section of the draft report on January 28.
Speaking on behalf of the Troika, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to United Nations (UN), Julia Imene-Chanduru said 95 delegates delivered statements and 264 recommendations were made to Zimbabwe, which it received and deferred some for further consideration.
“During the review, 95 delegates delivered their statements and Zimbabwe welcomed 127 of them and 98 were deferred for further recommendation with responses to be provided in due time, no later than the 5th session of the United Nations UPR in 2027.
“Zimbabwe noted 39 recommendations for adoption,” said Imene-Chanduru.
Some of the recommendations noted for adoption include involvement of women at all stages of peace and reconciliation processes, including in decision-making; gender-based violence against women; and amendment of the Trafficking in Persons Act, Marriages Act among others.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Zimbabwe, Virginia Mabiza said they took note of constructive suggestions and ideas, as such, they will in time come up with a final position.
“We have taken note of the various constructive ideas and recommendations we received. Going forward my government will consider these recommendations under the auspices of the national UPR follow-up mechanisms with a view to coming up with our final position which will be transmitted to the national secretariat in line with set time lines.
“In the meantime, we will continue to pursue our on-going work to implement the recommendations that we received in the previous UPR cycles as well as to enhance the promotion and protection of the human rights of our people and to fulfil our international obligations,” said Mabiza.
President of the Human Rights Council (Adoption), Federico Villegas said the entire report including the summary will be sent to delegates on February 11, 2022.
“The entire report and summary section will be circulated by email on February 11, 2022. All delegates will have till February 18 to make changes related to their own statements in the summary section of the report,” said Villegas.
