CHRR, Cedep applaud Malawi govt for acceptance to attend African Commission on Human Rights Session

CHRR, Cedep applaud Malawi govt for acceptance to attend African Commission on Human Rights Session

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep), has welcomed decision by Malawi government to appear before the 56th session of African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

The decision to attend African commission Session, Malawi will make another milestone in promotion of Hunan Rights issues following a positive background of Malawi’s similar maiden historical appearance at the 111^th session of United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva recently.

According to a Press Statement dated 12^th November 2014 co-signed by Executive Directors Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence for CHRR and Cedep respectively says by resolving to appear before the 56^th Session of African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights the Malawi government has not only demonstrated its willingness towards adherence to her international obligations but also commitment towards the promotion and protection of human rights for all.

It is an obligation of State parties to the African Charter on human and peoples’ rights to submit reports every two years updating the commission on their promotion and protection mandate of human and peoples' rights in their respective countries. But according to CHHR and Cedep statement “Malawi submitted its maiden report in 2012 after 25 years of non-compliance to her obligations to the commission.”

“In the absence of such state party reports, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation since 1998 [when it acquired the observer status to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights] had been presenting and submitting human rights brief reports to the African Commission highlighting the progress, challenges and recommendations to the Malawi government on issues of human rights and good governance.”

The statement further states “The Civil Society, through Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep), also submitted their shadow report in 2012, concurrently with Malawi government, which included a number of recommendations of the human rights situation in the country”

Among the recommendations the statement included;

1.       The state party to take steps and measures to comply with the Francis Kafantayen vs. The Attorney General decisions by ensuring that all murder convicts are re-sentenced as a matter of urgency

2.       The state Party to ensure that Dr. Kalonga Stambuli Commission of Inquiry Report is released and action should be taken against any person or persons who played a hand in his death

3.       The State Party to allocate a minimum of 15% of its national budget towards health in line with the Abuja Declaration

4.       The State Party as a matter of urgency compensate victims of 2O July demonstrations, investigate and prosecute the perpetrators

5.       The State Party as a matter of urgency to bring to justice those responsible for the brutal murder of a Polytechnic student activist Robert Chasowa and compensate late Robert Chasowa’s family

6.       The State Party to safeguard the independence of the Judiciary and desist from making bad comments in public against judicial officers and also ensure that judicial officers are properly remunerated and protected

The forthcoming session of the African commission in Gambia will hence provide the platform for Malawi government to give the status quo of protection and promotion of human rights in the country, the progress on implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples rights, and also update the commission on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations made in the 2012 civil society shadow report.

The 56^th Session will commence from the 1^st December to 17^th December 2014 in Banjul Gambia where Malawi government’s initial report is due for review on 7^th, 8^th and 9^th December 2014.