Zimbabwe set to outlaw human rights organisations
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
A new bill, which would criminalise non-governmental organisations working to promote human rights and ban overseas agencies from funding local groups, is set to become law in Zimbabwe before the end of the year.
The bill, which had its final reading last week, is being viewed as a further attempt to silence potential opponents of President Robert Mugabe抯 ruling Zanu-PF party, ahead of the country抯 elections in March 2005.
In The Zimbabwe Independent last week, public service and welfare minister Paul Mangwana reportedly denied claims that the bill deliberately targeted specific organisations, describing the idea of a list as "just speculation."
But it is feared that the move will spell additional misery for hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans, forced to depend on non-governmental organisations, in the absence of government welfare schemes and a failing economy.
In October a report from human rights charity Amnesty International found that food distribution in the country had been used to discriminate against supporters of the political opposition. And most food aid distribution has stopped altogether since mid-2004, says the charity. Their spokesperson described the latest proposals as "extremely sinister."
Staff numbers in the public health sector have also plummeted to critically low levels, particularly in rural areas, with vacancy rates at the end of last year between 40% and 90% for key healthcare professionals.
The proposed legislation will require non-governmental organisations to register annually with a government backed council to obtain a licence to work.
Those whose "sole or principal objects involve or include issues of governance" defined as "the promotion and protection of human rights and political governance," will not be granted the licence.
Furthermore, overseas funding of non-governmental organisations will be outlawed, effectively closing down many of the smaller local agencies almost immediately.
David Colthart, legal secretary of the opposition party in Zimbabwe, Movement for Democratic Change, told the BMJ that despite government claims that food and medical aid agencies would not be affected, the Bill抯 wording was such that any organisation which included human rights in its constitution could be caught out.
"Last year Nelson Mandela said that AIDS was a human rights issue, and not just a medical issue," he pointed out.
"The legislation will have the most profound impact on the lives of people, adversely affecting hundreds of thousands, possibly millions," he said.
A spokesperson for Oxfam refused to comment on the proposals, because to do so could jeopardise the safety of its workers on the ground, she said.
And a spokesperson for the medical aid charity M閐ecins Sans Fronti鑢es said that they had already found it very difficult to work in Zimbabwe.
In a similar move Sudanese authorities are believed to have expelled the British directors of Oxfam and Save the Children for referring to increasing violence in the country抯 Darfur region and calling for more action to stop it. The statements contravene laws that ban interference in the Sudan抯 political, ethnic or sectarian issues.(London Caroline White)
The bill, which had its final reading last week, is being viewed as a further attempt to silence potential opponents of President Robert Mugabe抯 ruling Zanu-PF party, ahead of the country抯 elections in March 2005.
In The Zimbabwe Independent last week, public service and welfare minister Paul Mangwana reportedly denied claims that the bill deliberately targeted specific organisations, describing the idea of a list as "just speculation."
But it is feared that the move will spell additional misery for hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans, forced to depend on non-governmental organisations, in the absence of government welfare schemes and a failing economy.
In October a report from human rights charity Amnesty International found that food distribution in the country had been used to discriminate against supporters of the political opposition. And most food aid distribution has stopped altogether since mid-2004, says the charity. Their spokesperson described the latest proposals as "extremely sinister."
Staff numbers in the public health sector have also plummeted to critically low levels, particularly in rural areas, with vacancy rates at the end of last year between 40% and 90% for key healthcare professionals.
The proposed legislation will require non-governmental organisations to register annually with a government backed council to obtain a licence to work.
Those whose "sole or principal objects involve or include issues of governance" defined as "the promotion and protection of human rights and political governance," will not be granted the licence.
Furthermore, overseas funding of non-governmental organisations will be outlawed, effectively closing down many of the smaller local agencies almost immediately.
David Colthart, legal secretary of the opposition party in Zimbabwe, Movement for Democratic Change, told the BMJ that despite government claims that food and medical aid agencies would not be affected, the Bill抯 wording was such that any organisation which included human rights in its constitution could be caught out.
"Last year Nelson Mandela said that AIDS was a human rights issue, and not just a medical issue," he pointed out.
"The legislation will have the most profound impact on the lives of people, adversely affecting hundreds of thousands, possibly millions," he said.
A spokesperson for Oxfam refused to comment on the proposals, because to do so could jeopardise the safety of its workers on the ground, she said.
And a spokesperson for the medical aid charity M閐ecins Sans Fronti鑢es said that they had already found it very difficult to work in Zimbabwe.
In a similar move Sudanese authorities are believed to have expelled the British directors of Oxfam and Save the Children for referring to increasing violence in the country抯 Darfur region and calling for more action to stop it. The statements contravene laws that ban interference in the Sudan抯 political, ethnic or sectarian issues.(London Caroline White)