Source: Amnesty International –
Malawi’s presidential and parliamentary candidates must ensure the promotion and protection of human rights before, during and after elections, Amnesty International said today ahead of the country’s general elections on 16 September.
The organization has published a human rights manifesto ahead of the elections, setting out what it considers to be eight key human rights priorities for the incoming president and parliament. These include the right to food, women’s rights, the rights to freedom of association and expression, and the rights of persons with disabilities including persons with albinism.
“As a first step, the incoming government must review and reform laws restricting the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, to ensure the effective realization of human rights,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa regional office.
As a first step, the incoming government must review and reform laws restricting the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, to ensure the effective realization of human rights.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa regional office.
During its first term, the current administration promised to “clear the rubble of impunity”; to operationalize the Access to Information Act and other laws protecting human rights; and to ensure transparency and accountability within government. None of these promises have been fulfilled.
“President Lazarus Chakwera’s first term has fallen short on human rights, defined by broken promises in relation to the economy and living standards, impunity and civic space,” said Tigere Chagutah.
Other priority issues include abolishing the death penalty, ensuring the right to access information, better protections for refugees and migrants as well as LGBTI persons, and the provision of sexual and reproductive health services.
President Lazarus Chakwera’s first term has fallen short on human rights, defined by broken promises in relation to the economy and living standards, impunity and civic space.
Tigere Chagutah
During the electoral period, the government must also ensure a safe and enabling environment so that civil society organizations and actors can freely do their work, and people can fully and effectively exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly