COLLECTIVE action, protection, & SUPPORT.
There is a particular kind of courage it takes to stand up for someone else's rights. To speak out when silence would be safer. To document an abuse when those who committed it are still watching. To stay beside a victim when the world has moved on. This is the courage that human rights defenders display every day, across Zimbabwe and across our region — and it is increasingly the courage that gets them killed, imprisoned, or silenced.
Solidarity Network is a civil society organisation built around a simple but urgent conviction: that no one who defends human rights should have to do it alone, and that no victim of a human rights violation should be abandoned to find justice by themselves.
About Solidarity Network
Solidarity Network is an independent, non-partisan human rights organisation based in Harare, Zimbabwe, with a mandate to work across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. We are not affiliated with any political party, government, or commercial interest. Our commitment is to the protection of human rights defenders, victims of abuses and marginalized communities.
We were established in response to a growing attacks on human rights defenders, and limited support systems for victims of abuse. In this environment, we provide practical protection, sustained solidarity, and a platform for accountability.
WHAT WE DO
Our work is built around three interconnected pillars:
VISION
A Southern Africa where human rights defenders are protected, victims of abuse receive justice and support, and all people can exercise their rights freely, safely, and with dignity
MISSION
To reduce the vulnerability of human rights defenders and victims of human rights abuses through direct action, protective mechanisms, and sustainable support systems grounded in human rights principles and responsive to local realities.
GUIDING PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT
At the heart of Solidarity Network is the African philosophy of Ubuntu — "I am because we are." We believe that human dignity is rooted in our shared humanity and collective responsibility toward one another.Ubuntu reminds us that when one person is silenced, persecuted, or denied their rights, the harm extends beyond the individual. It weakens the social fabric that binds communities together. This belief shapes our approach to protection, advocacy, and support.For us, solidarity is more than a principle. It is a responsibility.
VALUES
PEOPLE FIRST
We place the dignity, safety, and agency of affected individuals and communities at the centre of our work.
DO NO HARM
Every intervention is designed to minimise risk and strengthen protection.
INDEPENDENCE
We maintain strict independence from political, governmental, and commercial interests.
TRANSPARENCY
We are committed to accountability, ethical practice, and responsible stewardship of resources.
INCLUSION AND EQUALITY
We recognise that marginalised communities often face heightened risks and ensure their realities inform our work.
