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After 28 years in power, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has unleashed new levels of violence in an effort to avoid defeat in an election on June 27.  Dozens of opposition party workers have been brutally assassinated, and their supporters subject to widespread violence and intimidation.

Human rights defenders are especially important during such times of crisis, and for that reason have become targets themselves. Election monitors and human rights lawyers have been arrested and beaten by police and armed gangs, and many have fled the country due to death threats.

It is clear that fair elections are impossible, and the international community should put its full weight behind stopping the violence. But effective action by Zimbabwe's neighbors, and especially the region's main power, South Africa, is long overdue. 

You can help.  Please call on the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the government of South Africa to take a strong and unified stance against the repressive measures of President Mugabe, by: 

1. Condemning the violence in forceful and unequivocal terms, including the upcoming meeting in Egypt among Africa's leaders.
2. Enlarging the mediation process, so far entrusted to South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, to include other prominent leaders in the region.
3. Conducting immediate and effective on-the-ground monitoring by sending human rights observers.