We are watching a silent genocide of the poor and powerless, due to politically induced murders, criminal actions, and collapse of basic services resulting in deaths because of lack of health care, food, and shelter for the displaced, especially after the March 29th 2008 elections. Most of the affected are women and children.

• The post election murders, burnings, lootings and intimidation have most affected women and girls since they are rurally targeted; 80% of women live in rural areas.
• Over 800 homes have been burnt down, creating trauma for mothers who have to feed their children and care for the sick.
• Over 10,000 people have fled their homes, are displaced and staying with relatives, with the fear of going back home. Displaced children are not in schools.
• Over 50 people mostly from the opposition have been murdered in cold blood.
• An estimated 7,000 teachers have fled their schools as a number have been beaten in the eyes of parents and pupils.
• Doctors for Human Rights report that over 2000 serious cases of physical torture and beatings have passed through their hands and that many of those they treated have suffered serious fractures, to an extent that most are permanently handicapped.
• The oldest victim of the post election violence is an elderly woman with 12 grandchildren, all of them orphaned, and whose son is alleged to have campaigned for the opposition.
• The youngest female victim is a 15-year-old girl who was stripped naked together with her pregnant mother forced to lie down and beaten on the breasts and buttocks, just as many women have been so battered.
• Several girls and women are feared raped. The youngest child sexually assaulted is only 3 years old.
• More than 3,000 Zimbabweans die every week due to AIDS, and the life expectancy of Zimbabwean women is 34 years.
• Unemployment is 80% and inflation is 165 000% -- the highest in the world.
• 200,000 women have been made homeless and jobless by the government’s 2005 Operation Murambatsviina. Women’s church gatherings have been disrupted; women have been beaten and abused while at prayer.
• Over 3 million Zimbabweans are in South Africa, where they are facing xenophobic attacks.

This situation is an extra-ordinary emergency for women and girls. Every person and institution must do everything in their power to stop the violence, restore rule of law, and allow Zimbabweans to exercise their right to vote and live in peace.

We, Zimbabwean women and women worldwide:

Re-iterate the long-standing position of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that the failure by government and law enforcement to respect the rights of all citizens is the greatest threat to peace, democracy and development in Zimbabwe.

Are very concerned by a real danger of civil strife catalyzed by the growing humanitarian crisis. We are witnessing increasing levels of tension and political polarization among the population that turned out to vote on March 29, 2008. The media, which should ordinarily maintain neutrality reports on the party’s political position adopted by the law enforcement. The recent purchase of military weapons adds to the fear of increasing violence.

Demand cessation of organized and targeted intimidation against the citizens, particularly the use of women and girls as ‘weapons of war’, evidenced by the brutal battering of women, rape and sexual abuse.

Demand the immediate disbanding of the militias, comprised of youths, security agents and terror groups like Chipangano, which have caused terror and havoc in the rural and urban areas, exacerbating the disastrous humanitarian situation by creating internal refugees. We demand the disbanding of torture bases where gross abuses of women are taking place, including forced labour and sexual abuse.
Request the leadership of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations to demand that ZANU PF government stop using violence against its people and TAKE TANGIBLE actions if the violence continues.

We Especially Request the Human Rights Council to:

1. Establish a programme of engagement with Zimbabwe for the protection of human rights, especially for women, girls and children. The UN must deploy human rights monitors during the run-up to the Presidential Elections
2. Mandate and support the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women to carry out a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe and to support the efforts of community organisations living in a culture of fear
3. Mandate and support the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders to put in place ways of ensuring safety and protection for women’s human rights advocates and activists, who find themselves in fear of death and whose ability to engage publicly is compromised
4. Engage with the Zimbabwean government and authorities to stop the violence and demand that the state protect ordinary people’s lives
5. Encourage and support humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe, especially in providing support of food, health and education for rural communities and mainly for the displaced

Organisations and individuals are encouraged to sign on this statement, and submit to coalition@zol.co.zw (Zimbabwe Women’s Coalition) or worldoffice@worldywca.org; or athenainitiative@gmail.com or dakotareed07@gmail.com

Signed

1. Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
2. World YWCA
3. ATHENA
4. Girl Child Network (GCN)
5. Rozaria Memorial Trust
6. Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS)
7. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
8. EEPA, Brussels
9. General Arab Women’s Federation
10. International Coalition of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, East African Regional Office
11. African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
12. International Women’s Tribune Centre (IWTC)
13. Religions for Peace
14. World Student Christian Federation (WSCF)
15. YWCA of Liberia
16. Oranje Consult
17. Africa Public Health Alliance
18. Equatoria Literacy Program for Women and Children, Juba, South Sudan
19. Global Zimbabwe Forum
20. UN Watch
21. Women's World Summit Foundation
22. Health Systems Trust
23. Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas
24. Worldwide Organization of Women
25. 3HO Foundation
26. Women in Black Network -- Serbia
27. PEACEWORKERS, San Francisco
28. Zimbabwe Solidarity Campaign (Belfast)
29. ACDI-CIDA
30. IANSA Women's Network
31. Aim For Human Rights
32. Lwelaphanda Business Intelligence (LBI)
33. Kenya Human Rights Commission