• Press release
    Mar 21, 2012
    The government of Zimbabwe should drop all charges against six civil society activists convicted for watching a video of Arab Spring protests in 2011. The six, who alleged they were tortured to confess to planning violence, were sentenced to two-year suspended sentences, a US$500 fine, and 420 hours of community service on March 21, 2012.
  • Press release
    Feb 17, 2012

    The European Union should maintain its travel restrictions and asset freezes on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle until Zimbabwe carries out concrete human rights and institutional reforms, ahead of this year’s national elections. The EU is conducting its annual review of its sanctions policy toward Zimbabwe and is scheduled to announce a decision on February 17, 2012. 

  • Press release
    Aug 30, 2011

    (Johannesburg) – Zimbabwe police and private security guards employed by mining companies in the Marange diamond fields are shooting, beating and unleashing attack dogs on poor, local unlicensed miners. 

  • Q & A
    Aug 11, 2011
    With the 2011 Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government scheduled for August 16 and 17 in Luanda, Angola, these questions and answers are provided to shed more light on issues surrounding the effective suspension of the SADC Tribunal.
  • Press release
    Aug 9, 2011
    Seven courageous and tireless advocates for human rights will be honored in November 2011 with the prestigious Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.
  • Press release
    Aug 9, 2011
    Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should address the worrying human rights situations in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Angola.
  • Defenders
    Aug 8, 2011
    As director of the Center for Research and Development in eastern Zimbabwe, Farai Maguwu has conducted extensive research documenting horrific abuses taking place in the Marange diamond fields.
  • Press release
    Jun 28, 2011
    The decision on June 23, 2011, to allow exports from Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields goes against the very spirit and purpose of the Kimberley Process. Governments and companies should repudiate the decision and refuse Zimbabwean diamonds until participants in the Kimberley Process (KP) can make a clear decision about the export of these diamonds.
  • Commentary
    Jun 13, 2011
    Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting at an emergency summit on Zimbabwe in South Africa on June 11 will be hoping that their tougher stance towards resolving the country's political crisis eventually leads to democratic elections and an end to the crisis. But they have a long and challenging way ahead of them.
  • Press release
    Jun 2, 2011
    The South African government should quickly open a new refugee reception center in Johannesburg, Human Rights Watch said today. The closing of the existing center on June 1, 2011, will make it even harder for asylum seekers to lodge claims in the country’s chronically overburdened asylum system, which increases asylum seekers’ risk of being caught without the required permit to stay in the country and deported, Human Rights Watch said.