The oldest and most established of ZLHR’s programmes, the main intervention involves Litigation to increase access to justice as well as to enhance the protection of human rights defenders. Beneficiaries drawn from all ten provinces, and representation is provided before various national courts. When domestic remedies are not available or have been exhausted, some cases are taken to regional and or international bodies. Other complimentary interventions include community outreaches in the form of mobile legal clinics.
Access to Justice – Litigation contributing to civil, political, economic, and social justice, as well as democratic reform in Zimbabwe includes the following:
- Constitutional Litigation– challenging the constitutionality of various laws, state policies and practices and seeking to expand the Bill of Rights of the current Constitution;
- Anti-Impunity Litigation– bringing civil claims for damages against named perpetrators in their official and personal capacities to reduce impunity and increase accountability of state and non-state actors for human rights violations against HRDs;
- Public Interest and Strategic Impact Litigation – to expose potential perpetrators, or prevent or expose intended unlawful conduct by state and non-state actors;
- Socio-Economic Rights Litigation – to promote social and economic justice and further development efforts in Zimbabwe.
- Regional and International Litigation – filing cases/ communications before regional and international bodies such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Human Rights Defenders – Litigation support is provided to enhance the protection of human rights defenders in distress targeted for carrying out their legitimate work. This entails the following:
- Emergency and Follow-Up Legal Services – Legal representation is provided to human rights defenders during criminal proceedings at the lower and higher courts or when interacting with law enforcement or other state agents.
Mobile Legal Clinics
Community Outreaches – Programme lawyers conduct sessions designed to increase access to legal services for underserved communities. At these sessions, lawyers provide situational trainings, rights literacy and legal consultation.