Govt urged to pay attention to 2013 US human rights report

The 2013 US Human Rights Practices in Zambia has outlined a number of human rights concerns including restriction to the freedom to assemble and several attempts to stifle freedom of speech.

SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says his organization hopes that government will look at the report and be able to respond to it by communicating to the various stakeholders on how the concerns raised in the report will be addressed.

Mr. Cheembe has also observed that the 2013 US Human Rights Practices in Zambia report also serve as a very good advocacy tool for the civil society and other stakeholders involved in ensuring that the country’s human rights record improves.

He says it is for this reason why his organization appeals to all stakeholders in the advocacy for the improvement of the country’s human rights record to use the report as their basis for to undertake their advocacy.

The SACCORD Executive Director says such advocacy must necessary help the government to address the challenges raised in the 2013 US Human Rights Practices in Zambia report in order that the country progressively continues to improve on its human rights record.

He was speaking to Qfm news in an interview.