Below is a press release published by: Barotse National Freedom Alliance

Barotse National Freedom Alliance (BNFA), will submit a report on the occasion of the 28th Session of the Universal Period Review during which the Republic of Zambia is under consideration, and will draw attention to human rights violations against Barotseland people. The report focuses on the incidents which took place since January 2012 and seek declarations that the Republic of Zambia should recognize the right to self-determination of Barotseland and sign the Permanent Court of Arbitration submission agreement.

Further, the report will highlight violations of the right of freedom of opinion and expression against provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) signed and ratified by the Zambian government, as well as all other applicable instruments in the field of human rights law and public international law.

The report opens with a brief introduction followed by historical background. It will outline the continued human rights violations by successive Zambian governments against the people of Barotseland’s right to exercise self-determination within and without the terms of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 (BA’64).

Although the UPR takes a long time to turn around, the occasion is a historic moment for the BNFA and Barotseland as it marks the first time that the people of Barotseland have been able to bring their plight before the international community, a situation that successive Zambian regimes have heretofore kept under wraps.

About BNFA:  The Mission of the BNFA is to actualize the  Barotse National Council Resolution of March 27, 2012 by bringing together organizations and individuals to attain full independence for the state of Barotseland.

The aim of the Alliance is to organize and coordinate efforts of the people of Barotseland in attaining recognition of their statehood.