CSOs condemn govt, report violations

Civil society organisations have asked foreign missions based at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to press Malawi on recommendations on human rights obligations it has not implemented since 2010.

About five CSOs yesterday made statements on progress on access to justice, child rights, media freedom and free speech and protection of people with albinism to 50 foreign missions in Geneva during the pre-session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which Malawi and 14 other countries will undergo this May.

Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence said his organisation has registered 76 cases of abuse of people because of different sexual orientation despite a moratorium.

Said Trapence: “In the report [to the UN Human Rights Council], Malawi has chosen to ignore issues of gays when referring bad laws to the Malawi Law Commission, claiming they have no money.”

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation CHRR executive director Timothy Mtambo recommended that government should outline concrete plans to protect the rights of people with albinism.

**Suzgo is reporting from Geneva, Switzerland