Anti-Torture bill applauded

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:18:09 +0000

By SANDRA MACHIMA

SOUTHERN African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has challenged stakeholders to take full advantage of the Government’s position to have a draft Bill on Anti-Torture presented to Parliament in the sitting of Parliament in January, 2018.

SACCORD executive director Boniface Cheembe said his organisation supports the position by the Government to have a draft Bill on anti-Torture presented to Parliament.

He said the timeframe would give all relevant stakeholders an opportunity to harmonize any other inputs that might be there for the Bill to be strengthened as it goes through various stages of consideration.

“We are urging various stakeholders to take the advantage of the window of opportunity that is open between now and 2018 to participate in the process of continued Strengthening Legislation against Torture,” he said.

Mr Cheembe urged the stakeholders to support the position of the government, saying strategies and measures that seek to reduce or prevent torture and harmful effects, should be supported.

He said such collaborative efforts deserved support for the benefit of the citizens, adding that once the Bill was enacted it would help improve human rights in Zambia from a torture perspective.

Government has undertaken legislative and other measures to eliminate torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment in Zambia.

Justice Minister Given Lubinda disclosed that the act of torture was a violation of fundamental human right which should not be tolerated in the country, when the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) and Human Rights Commission (HCR), handed over  the report on criminalisation of torture in Zambia and the Anti-torture draft Bill.