2009 Rule of Law Award Recipient, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
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| H. Thomas Wells, Jr., ABA President, with Irene Petras, Director of ZLHR |
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is a non-profit human rights organization that aims, through the observance of the rule of law, to encourage and foster a robust human rights culture at all levels of Zimbabwean society. Founded in 1996, ZLHR is committed to protecting the constitutional rights and freedoms of Zimbabweans and of those living in the Southern Africa region. Other institutional aims include supporting the unimpeded administration of justice, encouraging free and fair elections and enabling the free flow of information. The organization keeps these values central to its activities.
ZLHR programs include: public interest litigation (including a prisoners’ rights initiative); human rights training and public education; international litigation, lobbying and advocacy; HIV/AIDS, human rights and the law efforts; institutional reform and policy formulation; and research and publications. Of particular note is ZLHR’s leadership in defending human rights cases and its representation of human rights defenders, civil society organizations, legitimate political players and pro-democracy activists. Since 2003, ZLHR has represented in excess of 4,500 human rights defenders—without conceding one conviction to the state. These individuals have benefited from emergency legal support and strategic litigation to challenge state excesses, infringement upon their rights, and unjust and repressive laws.
ZLHR currently has 14 full-time lawyers and a membership of 170, composed of 130 professional lawyers and 40 law students from the University of Zimbabwe. At great personal risk and to the benefit of humanity, they have given their time, energy and legal expertise to further the cause of human rights. While both ZLHR and its individual members have been recognized over the years, these accolades have not come without challenges to the organization and its staff and members, who—along with their families—have been collectively persecuted for their work.
ZLHR is also an influential member of the regional and international community, forming the Secretariat of the Human Rights Committee of the SADC Lawyers’ Association, and holding observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and affiliate status with the International Commission of Jurists.
For more information about ZLHR, visit: http://www.zlhr.org.zw
