The Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Harare Office (RWI) in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), facilitated a workshop on Fair Trial Rights for prosecutors in Zimbabwe. The workshop took place from 27 -30 November.
The launch of the workshop was officiated by the Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Per Lindgärde, the Prosecutor General of the National Prosecuting Authority in Zimbabwe, Honourable Loyce Matanda-Moyo, and the Director of Zimbabwe Programme and Harare Office, Mikael Johansson. In his remarks, the Ambassador emphasised that fair trial is a basic human right that must be respected by all countries.
The Prosecutor General stressed that prosecutors, as custodians of human rights, should ensure that the integrity of the criminal justice system is upheld through observing a fair trial for accused persons as provided by the Constitution.
The workshop brought together 25 public prosecutors from across Zimbabwe. The main objective was to increase knowledge and skills among prosecutors on human rights in the administration of justice, particularly in the criminal procedure.
The focus of the workshop was on the roles and responsibilities of the prosecutors in upholding human rights, with particular attention given to fair trial; human rights under arrest and pre-trial detention; the use of non-custodial measures in the administration of justice; equality and non-discrimination; human rights of women in the administration of justice; the rights of the child in the administration of justice; and independence and impartiality of prosecutors.
The workshop on Fair Trial Rights falls under the Zimbabwe Human Rights Capacity Development Programme 2019-2023 with funding from the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe.