ZIMBABWE BACK ?
Press Release:
8 November 2007 www.commonwealth-action-for-zimbabwe.org
Commonwealth campaigners launch People’s Charter for Zimbabwe
A political storm over Zimbabwe is brewing in advance of the Commonwealth Summit in Uganda , due to open on 23 November 2007.
As the crisis in Zimbabwe deepens, Commonwealth organisations, NGOs and campaigners are calling on Commonwealth leaders to act.
Spearheading the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) has launched a Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe
(visit: http://www.commonwealth-action-for-zimbabwe.org/), backed by a number of Commonwealth organisations, calling for Commonwealth leaders to re-engage with Zimbabwe .
The Charter is being promoted in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Kampala , Uganda from 23 to 25 November 2007.
It calls on Commonwealth Heads of Government to recognise their shared responsibility to support the Zimbabwean people.
CHOGM is a golden opportunity for a breakthrough, as around fifty-one Commonwealth Heads of State are expected to attend, including the SADC leaders presently leading the Zimbabwean mediation process.
Specific calls for action in the Charter include tackling the economic and humanitarian crisis, addressing human rights concerns and supporting and strengthening the present process of dialogue and negotiation.
Commonwealth officials counter that Zimbabwe is not a member of the organisation (which it quit in 2003) and that Zimbabwe will not be on the CHOGM official agenda.
Stuart Mole, Director-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society, disagrees: “The Commonwealth cannot ignore Zimbabwe . Just as it kept faith with the people of South Africa during that country’s anti-apartheid struggle, so it now has a duty to act on Zimbabwe .”
Mr Mole added that the campaign on Zimbabwe would build in intensity, with rallies, petitions and lobbying. A Commonwealth rally for Zimbabwe is planned in Kampala on 21 November, alongside the CHOGM, to draw Commonwealth attention to Zimbabwe .
The Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe is available online and has already started attracting attention. Supporters of the Charter hope that governments will be persuaded to act if Commonwealth citizens and organisations sign the Charter in great numbers. The signed charter will be presented to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda , host of CHOGM, and to Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Citizens of Commonwealth countries are invited to sign the Charter on the website: http://www.commonwealth-action-for-zimbabwe.org/.
Organisations wishing to support the Charter can contact http://uk.f274.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=advocacy@rcsint.org or call Chi Kavindele on +4420 7766 9235.
Press enquiries can be directed to Eleanor O’Riordan on 020 7766 9236 or pressoffice@rcsint.org.
Commonwealth campaigners launch People’s Charter for Zimbabwe
A political storm over Zimbabwe is brewing in advance of the Commonwealth Summit in Uganda , due to open on 23 November 2007.
As the crisis in Zimbabwe deepens, Commonwealth organisations, NGOs and campaigners are calling on Commonwealth leaders to act.
Spearheading the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) has launched a Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe
(visit: http://www.commonwealth-action-for-zimbabwe.org/), backed by a number of Commonwealth organisations, calling for Commonwealth leaders to re-engage with Zimbabwe .
The Charter is being promoted in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Kampala , Uganda from 23 to 25 November 2007.
It calls on Commonwealth Heads of Government to recognise their shared responsibility to support the Zimbabwean people.
CHOGM is a golden opportunity for a breakthrough, as around fifty-one Commonwealth Heads of State are expected to attend, including the SADC leaders presently leading the Zimbabwean mediation process.
Specific calls for action in the Charter include tackling the economic and humanitarian crisis, addressing human rights concerns and supporting and strengthening the present process of dialogue and negotiation.
Commonwealth officials counter that Zimbabwe is not a member of the organisation (which it quit in 2003) and that Zimbabwe will not be on the CHOGM official agenda.
Stuart Mole, Director-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society, disagrees: “The Commonwealth cannot ignore Zimbabwe . Just as it kept faith with the people of South Africa during that country’s anti-apartheid struggle, so it now has a duty to act on Zimbabwe .”
Mr Mole added that the campaign on Zimbabwe would build in intensity, with rallies, petitions and lobbying. A Commonwealth rally for Zimbabwe is planned in Kampala on 21 November, alongside the CHOGM, to draw Commonwealth attention to Zimbabwe .
The Commonwealth People’s Charter on Zimbabwe is available online and has already started attracting attention. Supporters of the Charter hope that governments will be persuaded to act if Commonwealth citizens and organisations sign the Charter in great numbers. The signed charter will be presented to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda , host of CHOGM, and to Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Citizens of Commonwealth countries are invited to sign the Charter on the website: http://www.commonwealth-action-for-zimbabwe.org/.
Organisations wishing to support the Charter can contact http://uk.f274.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=advocacy@rcsint.org or call Chi Kavindele on +4420 7766 9235.
Press enquiries can be directed to Eleanor O’Riordan on 020 7766 9236 or pressoffice@rcsint.org.
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