Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied Cautions HRC Chair

Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga has called on law enforcement officers to refrain from abusing detention, noting the gross violations of human rights in places of detention uncovered by the Commissions investigations throughout 2017.

Acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in all their forms or manifestation, are absolutely prohibited in international and regional human rights and humanitarian law, he reiterated in a statement to mark the Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day this week.

While expressing gratitude over the government’s commitment to reform the criminal justice system, Mwandenga cautioned: “It is a well-known fact that justice delayed is justice denied, which is a violation of the rights of suspects to a speedy and fair trial. Delayed delivery of justice also amounts to extra-judicial punishment through prolonged detention without trial and undermines respect for the rule of law, human rights and constitutionalism”.

The objective of Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day  is to raise awareness of the human rights violations of thousands of individuals held in detention facilities across Africa for prolonged periods without trial, in violation of their rights and freedoms.