The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has commended the newly appointed Human Right Commissioner who has the task of helping to improve human rights in Zambia.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe has also called on the New Commissioner to expedite the Process of Enacting the Anti-Torture Bill into Law.
Mr Cheembe said the centre has no doubt in the capacity of the appointed individuals to do the right things when it comes to promoting, observing, and protecting human rights.
He said it is expected that the Commission will continue working with all key stakeholders in matters of human rights.
“One of the topical debates in the last few weeks has been on torture following a circulated video of some youths being beaten by some members of the army for issuing unacceptable insults against the President.
“The unfortunate and regrettable images in the video have brought to the fore the need to address torture, which is a gross human rights violation, undercuts the rule of law and thereby requiring the need to criminalize the vice,” he said.
Mr Cheembe has called upon the government to enact into law the anti-torture bill that the HRC and the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) working in partnership with other stakeholders developed.
He has appealed to the government to inform the nation on the status of this bill which if enacted into law will help contribute to providing a legal framework that curtails the prevalence of torture and thereby strengthen our human rights record as a country.
