Human rights lawyers have intensified pressure on the government to put in place mechanisms that ensure perpetrators of torture are held accountable, according to NewsDay.
In commemorating the International Day In Support of Victims of Torture yesterday, lawyers bemoaned the government’s failure to adhere to the Constitution and other international treaties to stop the torture of citizens.
Government critics including members of the opposition and human rights defenders have in recent years claimed to have been abducted and tortured by suspected state security agents. In some cases, police brutalise members of the public in broad daylight.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers of Human Rights (ZLHR) said the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is an opportunity for everyone to demand an end to the heinous practise of torture by public officials and their agents. Said ZLHR:
It is also an opportunity for citizens, all over the globe, to lobby their governments to take steps towards the prosecution of all perpetrators of the abominable crime of torture.
ZLHR also urges the authorities to implement comprehensive reform measures that will lead to eradication of all forms of torture in the country as mandated by international law and the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The authorities should also ensure that all perpetrators of the heinous crime of torture are held accountable for transgressions.
The lawyers encouraged the public to support victims of torture through financial and social assistance.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said it was important for authorities to uphold citizens’ rights ahead of the 2023 polls.