The 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, held from May 11 to today in Banjul, The Gambia, provided a platform for African states to present their human rights records and commitments.
The meeting coincided with the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its 40th year in force, underscoring decades of continental efforts to safeguard freedoms and dignity.
Leading the Malawi delegation, Angela Kaunda, Senior Deputy Director for Human Rights in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, delivered a comprehensive statement on the country’s progress.
She highlighted Malawi’s peaceful transition of power following the September 2025 general elections as evidence of democratic maturity. She also underscored Malawi’s compliance with international human rights mechanisms, including reviews under the Universal Periodic Review and the Convention on Enforced Disappearance.
Among key reforms, Kaunda cited the Prisons Act of 2025, which introduced parole and rehabilitation measures to ease overcrowding, though she acknowledged persistent challenges in inmate nutrition, with nearly 80 percent of prisoners receiving only one meal daily.
She also pointed to the Mental Health Act, which shifted policy from a medical to a rights-based approach, and the Maternal and Newborn Health Programme, aimed at reducing infant mortality. Other initiatives included a nationwide birth registration campaign, a revised Disability Policy aligned with Malawi Agenda 2063, and expanded funding for disability inclusion.
The delegation, which included officers from the Judiciary, Ministry of Gender, Independent Police Complaints Commission, Malawi Human Rights Commission, and Malawi Prisons Service, further emphasised Malawi’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, the National Disaster Risk Management Policy, and ongoing reforms to the Refugees Act to strengthen protections for displaced persons and asylum seekers.
Access to justice was spotlighted through the expansion of the Legal Aid Bureau and a recent landmark High Court ruling affirming minors’ right to safe abortion services in cases of defilement.
Beyond Malawi’s national report, the delegation intervened in discussions on extractive industries, rights of older persons, prison conditions, and women’s rights. They highlighted Malawi’s mining regulations prohibiting child labour, legislative measures for the elderly and disabled, and infrastructure improvements in prisons.
On women’s rights, the delegation welcomed commendations for Malawi’s judicial stance on reproductive health, urging resilience against rollbacks in gender equality.
Side events enriched the session, including forums on implementing African Union human rights decisions and advancing sexual and reproductive health rights. Malawi was praised as a model for compliance with AU mechanisms, while its delegation shared experiences on court-backed reproductive rights reforms.
The session reaffirmed the Commission’s role in monitoring state compliance, reviewing reports, and strengthening continental solidarity on human rights.
- 1 view