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Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law

Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law

For over three decades, as Zimbabwe has suffered and declined under the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe, human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has fought to uphold the law in the African country. Although beaten by police and jailed in March of 2013, she's courageously defended in court those jailed by the Mugabe government, including journalists, peace activists, opposition candidates, farmers that had their lands confiscated, and ordinary citizens that had the courage to speak up. Through interviews with Mtetwa, several of her defendants, and experts on the rule of law, the documentary gives voice to those who have been victims of the regime and shows what it takes to fight back against the brutal and corrupt government.

The filmmakers, including producer-director Lorie Conway, hope the film will spark dialogue and change in the country and throughout Africa, while also bringing the story of this inspiring woman to the attention of the rest of the world.

Beatrice Mtetwa is the recipient of several international awards, including the Inamori Prize for Ethics, the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the International Human Rights Award from the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. Mtetwa is the only African, besides Nelson Mandela, to receive the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize from France.

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