CALR

Zimbabwe Senate Passes the Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill

December 13, 2024

Age of Consent Act Signed into Law in Zimbabwe: A Crucial Step Towards Protecting Minors

October 1, 2024

Independent Complaints Commissioners Sworn In: A New Era of Accountability in Zimbabwe

October 1, 2024

New initiative launched to promote inclusive governance and national dialogue – The Zimbabwean

September 27, 2024

Age of Consent Bill set to be approved

August 2, 2024

Efforts underway to enhance Child Protection

August 2, 2024

CENTRE FOR APPLIED LEGAL RESEARCH

The Centre for Applied Legal Research (CALR) is an independent research institute that empowers people, organizations and governments with sound and evidence-based legal and policy solutions and services that enhance development.

MAKING THE LAW WORK FOR DEVELOPMENT

Constitutionalism & Rule of Law

Access to Justice

Realization of Human Rights

ALL SERVICES

FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

Constitutional Legislative Alignment Initiative

A joint initiative being implemented by CALR in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (MoJLPA).

Human Rights Professional Training Initiative

The programe seeks to contribute to participating institutions being better equipped to contribute to reforms and related initiatives.

Right of Access to Information Initiative

This initiative aims to build capacities among communities on the use of the right of access to information.

Legal Drafting and Capacity Building Initiative

Teaching and capacity development entails the development of individuals, groups and institutions for self-sustained legal learning.

About us

CALR offers legal expertise, resources, tools and technical support to governments, developmental partners, and civil society organizations. Its work links the law (as it is and as it ought to be) with developmental needs across the multiple sectors of a country’s economy. In this manner its inter-disciplinary work revolves around two thematic areas, namely:
(a) Law, Democracy and Governance
(b) Law, Economics and Science

The work involving law, democracy and governance seeks to promote a democratic dispensation embedded on the rule of law while the work involving law, economics and science seeks to promote socio-economic development in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Although CALR’s work has been mainly in Zimbabwe; it has gained significant experience in the southern, eastern and northern African sub-regions. Since its humble beginnings in 2010, CALR has worked with a variety of governments, developmental partners and civil society organizations in diverse sectors including: constitutionalism and rule of law; access to justice; promotion of human rights; public health; water and sanitation; agriculture; forestry; local government; electoral systems; and information and media.

Our Vision

CALR aspires to be a world-class international legal research, advisory and capacity development institution that addresses the needs of present and future generations to live a life of decency, safety, good health and freedom.

Our Mission

The Centre for Applied Legal Research’s mission is to contribute, through collaborative applied research, capacity development and advisory services, to efforts to resolve pressing national and sub-regional problems of human survival, development and welfare.

It provides legal education leadership on aspects of good governance, public health, human rights, financial regulation, environment and natural resources management etc. with a special emphasis on collaboration between Zimbabwean and non-Zimbabwean legal education institutes.

It, therefore, serves the people of Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa sub-region with state-of-the-art applied legal research and with the accumulated knowledge in these areas.

Governance

CALR is managed by a Board of Trustees and a Management Team.

The Board currently consists of 6 Trustees, who were selected on the basis of their past and continued contribution to scholarship in various legal and non-legal areas.

Specific membership is reserved for: permanent teaching staff of the Faculty of Law of recognized Universities; members of the legal fraternity, recognized for their experience and knowledge in legal practice in the private, public and/or NGO sectors; and the Executive Director of the Centre.

IN THE NEWS

Zimbabwe Senate Passes the Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill

In a significant stride towards human rights advancement, Zimbabwe’s Senate has passed the Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill, paving the way for the elimination of capital punishment from its legal framework. This decision reflects a growing recognition of the sanctity of life and aligns with constitutional principles that prioritise human dignity. The movement to

December 13, 2024 Read more
Age of Consent Act Signed into Law in Zimbabwe: A Crucial Step Towards Protecting Minors

The Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act, signed into law by the President of Zimbabwe in 2024, marks a pivotal moment in the country’s framework concerning the protection of minors. This Act establishes a minimum age of 18 for legal consent to sexual activity, thereby addressing a critical gap that previously

October 1, 2024 Read more
Independent Complaints Commissioners Sworn In: A New Era of Accountability in Zimbabwe

The recent swearing-in of Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission members on the 19th of September 2024 marks a significant milestone in the nation’s journey towards enhanced accountability within its security services. Established under the Independent Complaints Act, this commission is a vital mechanism designed to ensure transparency and fairness between security sector institutions and the public

October 1, 2024 Read more
New initiative launched to promote inclusive governance and national dialogue – The Zimbabwean

The Zimbabwe Institute, in partnership with the Centre for Applied Legal Research (CALR), 4-H Zimbabwe, Ukuthula Trust, and the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance have launched the Diverse Pathways for Progress (DP4P) program aimed at strengthening inclusive and participatory governance systems in Zimbabwe. The four-year program supported by the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) seeks to promote national

September 27, 2024 Read more