Tracking Expression: Monitoring, Reporting and Addressing Human Rights Violations During Elections

Abstract

The BHRC conducted a series of plenary sessions and workshops in Harare and Bulawayo aimed to develop strategies and systematise approaches to human rights monitoring and reporting. In partnership with the John Smith Memorial Trust, the BHRC provided training with a focus on human rights during the electoral processes.

As part of this project, Theodora (BHRC) produced the training manual 'Tracking Expression: Monitoring, Reporting and Addressing Human Rights Violations During Elections'. Specifically tailored for Zimbabwe, this is a resource which comprehensively covers human rights law in the context of elections.

The Manual places emphasis on training lawyers in areas of human rights which are requisite to the creation of an environment most conducive to "free and fair" elections; namely, the rights to freedom of expression, information, association and assembly. Throughout the Manual, examples are provided in order to demonstrate how international norms have been interpreted in actual cases.

This version does not include the section on Networking for elections monitoring produced by the John Smith Memorial Trust.

Keywords: Human Rights, Elections