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HATS OFF
TO MAGUWU
ZimRights congratulates the Manicaland based Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition member, the Centre for
Research and Development ( CRD ) Director Farai
Maguwu for scooping a worthy Human
Rights Watch Alison Des Forges
Award for his undeterred commitment, efforts
and hard work against human rights abuses in the
region and Zimbabwe as a whole .READ
MORE |
The Board of Directors
and Staff of the Center for Research and Development
would like to join civil society and CRD partners
in congratulating the Director of Center for Research
and Development Farai Maguwu for
being awarded the prestigious Human Rights
Watch Alison Des Forges Award for extraordinary
Activism. READ MORE |
ZIMBABWEAN
ACTIVIST HONORED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WORK
New York--One Zimbabwean known worldwide for his
attempts to shed light on the brutality taking
place in the nation’s Marange diamond fields
is being recognized as a courageous champion of
human rights.
Human Rights Watch, a New York-based organization
dedicated to protecting human rights worldwide,
has selected Farai Maguwu as one of seven recipients
of the organization’s 2011 Alison Des Forges
Award for Extraordinary Activism. The award recognizes
those who put their lives on the line to protect
the rights and dignity of others.READ
MORE
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CRD Regional
Conference Report
On 31 August 2011, the Center for Research and
Development (CRD), in collaboration with the South
African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA),
and the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) hosted
a conference on ‘Zimbabwe’s Diamonds
and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme:
Effectiveness and Responsibilities’
This highly informative conference came as governments,
civil society and the international community
continues to explore the best ways of helping
Zimbabwe to fund its reconstruction and development
using its newly found treasure, the diamond.READ
MORE
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Unique Features
of CRD
Apart from contributing to the body of knowledge,
CRD does action research which guides policy and
interventions in contemporary times. Being an active
member of the Kimberly Processes Certification Scheme
(Civil Society Coalition), the CRD works closely
with its civil society partners to promote resource
rights in communities living in or near extractive
industries in Zimbabwe.READ
MORE |
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Notable
achievements
CRD was instrumental in bringing the horrific
human rights abuses that took place in Chiadzwa
diamond fields to the attention of the National,
Regional and international community through the
KPCS. This culminated in international outrage,
with several governments and international organizations
calling on the Zimbabwean authorities to refrain
from using violence against artisanal miners and
Marange villagers. In 2009 CRD received the Crisis
Coalition award for Outstanding Work in Promoting
Democracy and Good Governance in Zimbabwe.
READ MORE
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Making diamonds
work for the poor
The Center for Research and Development is advocating
for diamond revenue transparency and respect for
human rights in Marange diamond fields where state
security agents and private security companies are
involved in illicit diamond deals and human rights
abuses against artisanal miners and local villagers.
CRD carries out research in Zimbabwe’s eastern
districts and in Mozambique’s Manica Town
that aims at monitoring the illicit trade in Marange
diamonds as well as identifying and assisting victims
of human rights abuses with access to treatment.READ
MORE |
Supporting the
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)
The Center for Research and Development was instrumental
in bringing to light the horrific human rights abuses
that took Place in Marange diamond fields when the
Zimbabwe National Army took over control of the
area in November 2008. CRD work revolves around
protecting the weak and vulnerable members of society
as well as to build their collective capacity to
protect themselves from abuse through domestic and
international legal instruments. CRD devoted time
and resources to identify victims of abuse and help
them with access to treatment. Evidence of abuse
produced by CRD prompted the Kimberly Process to
intervene in Marange through a fact finding mission
that visited the country in June 2009. CRD became
a member of the KP Civil Society Coalition where
it works closely with other civil society organizations
such as Global Witness, Green Advocates and Partnership
Africa Canada.READ
MORE |
Natural
Resource Dialogue
Manicaland province is richly endowed with vast
natural resources ranging from gold, forestry,
water, productive land, diamonds among others
that when managed properly and sparingly can foster
local economic development. It is against this
background that CRD and other civic society organizations
in Manicaland formed a coalition in February 2011
that will come up with applicable strategies to
help in natural resources management and equitable
resource allocation with the notion of sustainable
development in mind. On the 13th June 2011 the
forum attracted a total number of 45 delegates
from different civic society organizations, religious
groups and the community. READ
MORE |
