Zimbabwe needs vocal, visible Canadian commitment to ending human rights crisis
MONTREAL – Nov. 15, 2006 – The Government of Canada ruling that it cannot prosecute President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe under domestic crimes against humanity laws should not mark the end of Canada’s attention to his regime’s record of murder, torture, rape and other gross violations of human rights.
In June, Canada’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development passed a motion asking the Minister of Justice to assess the feasibility of using Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act to indict President Mugabe for human rights violations in Zimbabwe and report back by Nov. 15. To his credit, the Hon. Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Justice, has now done so, stating that Mr. Mugabe enjoys head of state immunity and is therefore beyond the reach of Canadian courts.
Canada ’s efforts to bring Mr. Mugabe and representatives of his government to account for gross human rights violations against Zimbabweans, including the widespread use of torture and rape against political opponents, cannot end with this ruling. As a leading proponent of the Responsibility to Protect, a principle adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, the Government of Canada should assume the international lead in seeking protection for the people of Zimbabwe from their government.
“The people of Zimbabwe need Canada to speak up for the human rights their government is systematically and often sadistically abusing,” said Jean-Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy. “ Canada played a vital, no-nonsense role in freeing South Africa from apartheid, and this bold commitment to action is needed once again in Zimbabwe.”
A recent Rights & Democracy-sponsored visit to Canada by Gabriel Shumba and Marilyn Tudor of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) proved Canadians are deeply concerned and disturbed by the atrocities occurring inside Zimbabwe. Editorialists across the country spoke out in support of ZEF’s efforts to see Mr. Mugabe and his representatives brought to justice. They also wrote in no uncertain terms about Canada’s moral obligation to stand-up to President Mugabe and rally the international community against his abuses.
There is much Canada can do to this end. First and foremost, Canada must continue and deepen its direct support for civil society organizations like ZEF that are working within in Zimbabwe or while in exile in neighbouring countries to promote human rights and the rule of law.
Canada must also work with its friends and allies on the United Nations Security Council to see Zimbabwe finally addressed as the threat to regional security and stability that it has become. Canada’s membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council should also used to reinvigorate international condemnation of the Mugabe regime’s record on human rights.
Canada ’s good standing in the Commonwealth should be brought to bear to ensure Zimbabwe stays on the agenda, despite the Mugabe regime’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 2003. The Commonwealth groups together many African governments that continue to support Mr. Mugabe, most notably South Africa, and Canada must use its influence to see this support challenged.
Canada ’s bilateral relations with South Africa, China and other countries with close ties to Zimbabwe must also echo Canadian concern for their associations with the Mugabe regime, economic and otherwise. Ongoing support and investment in Zimbabwe by these countries is essential to the regime’s survival, and Canada must unequivocally condemn these arrangements so long as human rights abuses continue unabated in Zimbabwe.
For its part, Rights & Democracy will continue its support for Zimbabwe’s courageous human rights advocates and their efforts to establish democracy and end impunity in Zimbabwe.
For more information, please contact Steve Smith or Louis Moubarak at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.
For More Information
Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.
