The Special Rapporteur of the African Commission on human rights defenders in Africa , Reine Alapini-Gansou , has been taking public positions to protect defenders engaged in protests . A recent example is the press release issued on 18 June 2007 in which Ms. Alapini-Gansou expressed concern about alleged acts of violence and harassment against a number of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise ( WOZA ) in the context of the peaceful and silent march they organized in Bulawayo on 6 June 2007 to launch their campaign `` Ten steps to a new Zimbabwe '' .