Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

The United Nations is set to dispatch the Special Rapporteur on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Ms. Alena Douhan to assess the impact of sanctions on Zimbabwe next month ahead of the anti – sanctions day.

In a statement, the UN revealed that Ms Douhan will visit the country from 18 to 28 October to hold a series of meetings and engagements with Government authorities, civil society organizations, private sector and opposition parties to gather facts that she will present on the United Nations Human Rights Council during its 51st Session in September 2022.

The development comes after the international body accepted an invite from Zimbabwe to assess their impact on the country. The government blames sanctions for crippling economic growth and affecting the rights of its citizens. Zimbabwe is currently under sanctions from the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union which it describes as illegal.

“Following an invitation of the Government of Zimbabwe, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Ms. Alena Douhan, will undertake an official visit to country from 18 to 28 October 2021 in order to gather first-hand information related to the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights in a specific country, enabling her to conduct her assessment and evaluation of such impacts and thus to prepare relevant recommendations and guidelines on means to mitigate or eliminate these adverse impacts.

“The purpose of the mission is to examine, in the spirit of co-operation and dialogue, whether and to what extent the adoption, maintenance or implementation of unilateral sanctions impedes the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development (cfr. A/HRC/RES/27/21, OP.1). The Special Rapporteur will present her conclusions and recommendations in a report she will submit to the Human Rights Council in September 2022,” reads the statement.

The Special Rapporteur will also hold private meetings with United Nations agencies in Zimbabwe, international organizations, regional organizations, international financial institutions, the national human rights institution, and representatives of the diplomatic community in Harare for engagements.

Zimbabwe will hope to get a positive review from this visit as it will boost its fight for the removal of sanctions. The country has solidary from fellow African countries as they declared 25 October as the Anti – Sanctions day.