Human Rights Activist Jenni Williams Arrested in Zimbabwe

UPDATE: Jenni Williams and the other 13 women were released from prison today, February 9. Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members will have to show up on court on Monday, February 13, to be formally charged with criminal nuisance.

(WASHINGTON Feb. 9, 2012) – Jenni Williams, co-founder and leader of the human rights organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), was arrested on February 7 and remains in jail under severe conditions.

Williams was arrested along with 13 other women in front of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) office in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Williams and 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Laureate Magodonga Mahlangu had just attended a meeting with JOMIC to address human rights abuses committed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and to demand the implementation of the Global Political Agreement, developed in 2009 to establish a power-sharing government. While Williams and Mahlangu were in the meeting, other WOZA members demonstrated peacefully nearby, commemorating the organization’s 10 years promoting human rights and social justice. Williams was arrested as she came out of the meeting.

Williams and the 13 other women are currently at Bulawayo Central Police Station. They have been in custody for two days without being charged. They spent the first night in the rain as they were kept locked outdoors in the police yard rather than in a holding cell. Some of the women are suffering dehydration having been exposed to the extremely high heat for hours. As of right now, there has not been any progress and all are complaining of mistreatment.

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights urges you to call the Bulawayo Central Police Station to express deep concern and to request that the women receive proper treatment and be released as soon as possible.

• General Number: +263 9 72515
• Superintendent, crime: +263 9 60204