Malawi dares UN on rights abuse claims
In what could be described as a bold challenge, Malawi Government has invited the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on human rights to come and investigate allegations that it is abusing human rights.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu made the statement at a news conference in Lilongwe on Wednesday following reports, initially reported by our sister newspaper Nation on Sunday, that the UN envoy had written Lilongwe to query reports of abuse of human rights.
Some Cabinet ministers also allegedly summoned organisers of the demonstration to dissuade them from going ahead with the protests.
Another specific threat was reportedly delivered during a news conference by Minister of Gender, Women, Children and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati who allegedly threatened that participating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) risked being deregistered.
In the wake of these reports, Tembenu yesterday told journalists that while government has comprehensively responded to the set of allegations, Lilongwe has asked the UN to institute an investigation to verify the allegations.
Said Tembenu: “We indicated that these rights are fully guaranteed in Malawi and there have been no recent incidences where demonstrations have been curtailed.
“Government has invited the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly to Malawi to assess the situation of human rights defenders, who are currently operating in a conducive environment.”
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairperson Sophie Kalinde hailed government for calling for the probe, revealing that the taxpayer-funded rights body proposed the same following publication of the UN letter.
Earlier, Tembenu gave an update on Malawi’s appearance at the recently-held sessions on the status of human rights in Geneva, Switzerland and Banjul in The Gambia.
The minister said while government has rejected controversial recommendations on removal of death penalty from the statutes and the anti-same sex relationship laws, Lilongwe was appealing for civil society groups to stimulate national debate on both issues.
Over 41 proposals were rejected and 13 recommendations were deferred for further consultations while 145 enjoyed Malawi Government’s support as the country’s human rights record came under scrutiny.
