Twenty-six years after a euphoric and hope-filled transition to independence, Zimbabwe’s democratic institutions have been systematically destroyed by the governing regime. Despite a constitution that defends these institutions, including the existence of political parties and the holding of regular elections, Zimbabwe is now governed by a monopolistic, authoritarian regime that uses violence and repression to maintain its grip on power.

The regime has enacted repressive legislation that restricts freedom of association, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of movement using, for example, the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). According to the testimonies of victims of this repression and based on the findings of investigations by human rights organizations, the regime’s methods of repression include the common use of torture, large-scale rape as a form of torture, and arbitrary execution.

The general objective of Rights & Democracy’s programming is to combat impunity relating to human rights violations in Zimbabwe. More specifically, it is designed to document cases of human rights violations; raise awareness in Canada and on the international level of the gravity of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe; facilitate recourse to justice by the victims of human rights violations before African and international human rights protection mechanisms; and support local organizations providing assistance to victims of human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Rights & Democracy works with the Zimbabwean Exiles Forum (ZEF), based in South Africa, to document human rights abuses committed by the regime in Zimbabwe, using this material to advocate for the rights of victims at the appropriate regional and international legal fora, as well as in Canada.