AIDS-Free World is preparing to gather the evidence of rape and torture committed in Zimbabwe before and after the June 27, 2008, election.  The documentation of atrocities is the first step to exposing the truth and ending the government-sanctioned impunity for these crimes.  Because of the nature of the offenses and the on-going risk, we are moving quickly to initiate a legal investigation.  We believe that the widespread and systematic use of violence, including politically-motivated rapes, constitutes crimes against humanity under international law.

As Betty Makoni has explained, these crimes have been willfully ignored by Zimbabwean authorities operating in a broken legal system.  For this reason, AIDS-Free World intends to document and preserve the horrific stories coming from the victims of these crimes.  With these testimonials, we will have the evidentiary material for future legal proceedings.  The recording of the statements and naming of the perpetrators is an essential part of the pursuit of justice.  We will protect the identity of the victims while bringing their stories to light and exposing ZANU-PF's campaign of violence against women. 

We will share our finding with Judge Pillay and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  We will also send it to the UN Security Council - which has the power to refer these crimes to the International Criminal Court.  We fully expect that this work will lay the foundation for a future domestic trial, international tribunal or truth commission.  Although our efforts are not a substitute for immediate action to prevent further violence against women, we hope to bring justice to the victims and call the rapists to account for their actions.  The women of Zimbabwe deserve nothing less. 

Noah Novogrodsky
August 7, 2008
XVII International AIDS Conference
Mexico City

  Download press conference statement as a word document

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