ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNED OVER ARRESTS OF TRADE UNIONISTS IN ZIMBABWE

20 November 2003

The following statement was issued on 20 November 2003 by acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan:

"The acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses his concern regarding reports that more than 100 trade unionists and civil leaders have been arrested on 18 November 2003 during a protest demonstration in the capital Harare.

Last month, the Commission on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo; the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Commission's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Leila Zerroügui, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, also expressed concern regarding the arrest of more than forty trade unionists during a national protest demonstration.

The Acting High Commissioner appeals to the Zimbabwean authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee the rights of the detained persons and to secure their right to freedom of opinion and expression in accordance with the fundamental principles as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reiterated in the international human rights norms and instruments".