Florence Mudzongo (left) and Betty Makoni (right) celebrate with DCI-Canada

On March 2, 2009, Defence for Children International-Canada (DCI-Canada) held a dinner to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Girl Child Network (GCN), a grassroots organization established to promote the human rights of girls in Zimbabwe.

The dinner, hosted by DCI-Canada president Agnes Samler, was attended by DCI-Canada board members and two special guests: Betty Makoni, founder of GCN, and Florence Mudzongo, an alumna of GCN who now studies and lives in Canada. Also present were Nneka McGregor, a lawyer and renowned advocate for women’s rights and one of the cofounders of the strong women list in Canada, and prominent women rights activist Vivian Green.

Agnes, who has played host to Betty many times over the past decade, commended the work of GCN, saying, “This is well deserved because of the lives of girls you saved.”

Betty and Florence laughed, joked and talked about the good old days during formation of GCN.

“You know Betty, you always insisted on journals but initially no one took you seriously,” said Florence. “For me, having you as a teacher and role model is something that made me what I am.”

Florence’s mother was the first parent to donate to GCN activities, and died tragically on her way home after attending a Christmas party for girls at Betty’s home. Florence and here sister were left in a child-headed family. Since then, Florence has been a role model to many orphaned girls including her sister, who was admitted to medical school. While working as an accountant in Canada Florence pursued studies in human rights, and now plans to take a three month leave this summer to share her knowledge with GCN.

GCN has partnered with DCI-Canada since 2007 when Betty visited Canada at the suggestion of Denise Parmentier, a program officer for Oxfam Novib. The networks she has established in Canada have resulted in GCN becoming a household name here.

Bill Sparks, a DCI-Canada board member and the volunteer coordinator for GCN in Canada, introduced GCN to a range of Canada-based funding partners including the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Rotary Club of Canada and Canadian Crossroads International. The financial assistance provided by these organizations has helped GCN to assist girls at risk, and ensured hundreds are supported with education and rescue from abusive homes, schools and communities.

“Going to Canada is like going to a second home,” said Betty. “The country is very cold but the people are the warmest … My activism has always started and ended in Canada. All the people who opened their doors when the storm hit the worst in Zimbabwe were ordinary Canadians and those to inform the world about Zimbabwe are Canadian.”

This is Betty’s sixth visit to Canada since 2006.

Many other countries have joined Canada to honour GCN for its ten years of hard work. In April 2009, Betty will be named an “Unsung Hero of Compassion” by California-based Wisdom in Action. Recently, the World Children’s Prize in Sweden announced that Betty-along Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and eleven other child rights activists-is nominated for the Decade Child Rights Hero, in which 22 million children around the world will vote to choose their hero for the decade.

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December 10, 2008

President Robert G. Mugabe
Office of the President
Munhumutapa Building
Samora Machel Avenue
Box 7700 Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax:  011 263 4 734 644

Dear President,

We are writing to express our great concern over the desperate conditions that have developed in Zimbabwe. Defence for Children International-Canada has close ties to child advocates and active communication with many other human rights organizations who work in the country.

Our immediate concern is the safety of the Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, Jestina Mukoko, who was forcibly taken from her home on December 3, 2008, by a group of armed plain-clothes men who identified themselves as policemen. Her current whereabouts remain unknown. According to an eyewitness more than a dozen men, believed to be state security agents, stormed her home in Norton and took her by force while still barefoot and dressed in her pajamas. The men then drove off in two cars, one of which did not have registration plates.

We understand that Jestina Mukoko’s abduction is consistent with an established pattern of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders by the Zimbabwean authorities in an attempt to discourage them from documenting and publicizing the human rights violations that are taking place.

We have full documentation of several cases of enforced disappearances similar to that of Jestina Mukoko this year alone. Some of the victim’s bodies were later found. Authorities have been unwilling to investigate these cases of enforced disappearances, including politically motivated killings of human rights defenders and political activists.

We are, naturally, troubled with fears for Jestina Mukoko’s safety and would regard any continued threats of hurt to her as a sign of determination to destroy human rights for any one who criticizes the authorities.

We call on the Zimbabwean authorities to disclose the whereabouts of Jestina Mukoko and not to ill treat her. This includes allowing Jestina Mukoko access to her lawyer and her family as well as food, water, warm clothes and medication.

We also call on the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately end its practice of enforced disappearances and follow international standards on arrest and detention for persons under criminal investigation. And, we call on the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately investigate all those responsible for the enforced disappearances, including those who sanctioned it and bring them to account.

And we, with particular emphasis on our mandate to identify violations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, protest the total disregard of the rights of children.

We join the international community in condemning these human rights violations and call for a viable system of justice for Zimbabwe.

Sincerely yours,

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December 10, 2008

Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6

Dear Minister,

We are writing on behalf of the children of Zimbabwe who are screaming for help. As you know, Zimbabwe’s economy is in crisis, there are extreme food shortages and the recent outbreak of cholera is exacerbating a desperate situation.

Recently a woman who was documenting the rapes and brutal beatings of women and children has been abducted. Her name is Jestina Mukoko and we fear for her life. Many others who have attempted to speak out about violations of basic human rights and the destruction of the justice system have been killed or are still missing. We cannot simply stand by and ignore this situation.

Defence for Children International-Canada wrote to President Mugabe (see attached letter), the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of Defense Forces and the Attorney General of Zimbabwe. These letters have been copied to Florence Zano Chideya, the Ambassador to Canada for Zimbabwe.

We call on you to engage the international community in addressing this situation and finding a solution to protect the lives of the people of Zimbabwe and, in particular, vulnerable children. In the past Canada has played a strong role in addressing injustices across the world. Our history and reputation often allows us to intervene effectively in some of the most difficult scenarios.

We ask that you use your office to urgently intervene on behalf of Jestina Mukoko and to provide leadership for a durable solution for the children of Zimbabwe. We would appreciate an early response indicating the actions that Canada will take on this critical matter.

Sincerely yours,