Malawi

Making love a crime: Criminalization of same-sex conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa

Published by on June 25, 2013

Amnesty International 25 June 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides an analysis of the legal environment and wider context of human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent years have seen increasing reports of people being harassed, marginalized, discriminated against and attacked because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. This is occurring in countries whose legal systems still condone the criminalization of consensual same-sex behaviour, and in countries where the police and justice systems are failing to prevent these crimes from happening. The continued criminalization of consensual same-sex Read the full article…

Malawi: Amnesty International Annual Report 2013

Published by on May 23, 2013

Amnesty International 23 May 2013 Harassment and intimidation of government critics continued in the early part of the year. Following the swearing in of President Joyce Banda in April, the environment for civil and political rights rapidly improved. Commissions of enquiry into the deaths of 20 people during the July 2011 nationwide demonstrations and into the death of a student activist presented their findings. Several laws which threatened internationally guaranteed human rights were repealed. Read the full report here.

Malawi: Freedom in the World 2013

Published by on May 20, 2013

Freedom House 20 May 2013 President Bingu wa Mutharika died suddenly in April 2012, and, after a brief power struggle, Vice President Joyce Banda took over as Malawi’s leader. Under Banda, many of the oppressive policies implemented in the latter stages of Mutharika’s rule were quickly lifted, and the government appeared to be on a path of greater transparency and respect for human rights. Banda’s reforms resulted in improved relations with the international donor community, which had suffered greatly at the end of Mutharika’s tenure. Read the full report here.

Malawi: 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Published by on April 19, 2013

US Department of State 19 April 2013 Malawi is a multiparty democracy. On April 7, Vice President Joyce Banda became president, as stipulated by the constitution, following a brief period of uncertainty after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Banda was Mutharika’s running mate in the 2009 elections, which international observers characterized as generally free and fair. Constitutional power is shared between the president and the 193 National Assembly members. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. The major human rights issues in the country included the use of excessive force by security forces, which resulted in deaths and injuries; Read the full article…

Malawi president refuses to commit to repeal anti-gay laws

Published by on January 2, 2013

Dan Littauer, Gay Star News 2 January 2013 Joyce Banda, Malawi’s president, said she has no power to repeal anti-gay law and the matter is best left for the people to decide Malawian president, Joyce Banda, refused to commit to repealing the country’s anti-gay laws. She said she had nothing to state on whether the country should decriminalize same-sex relations or not, saying she would leave the matter for Malawians to decide for themselves. Banda made these statements in response to questions posed to her by callers from across the country on Zodiak Broadcasting Service, on Monday (31 December 2012). Read the full article…

Malawi: US department of state country reports on human rights practices 2011

Published by on May 24, 2012

US State Department 24 May 2012 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Malawi is a multiparty democracy. In 2009 voters reelected Bingu wa Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as president in what international observers characterized as a generally free and fair election. Constitutional power is shared between the president and the 193 National Assembly members. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. Three major human rights issues in the country include the use of excessive force by security forces, which resulted in deaths and injuries; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; and limits on freedom of speech, press, and political expression. Other human rights Read the full article…

Malawi: Amnesty International annual report 2012

Published by on May 24, 2012

Amnesty International 24 May 2012 Human rights defenders and other government critics were subjected to harassment and intimidation. Several civil society leaders were forced into hiding as attacks on government critics increased. Anti-government protests were brutally suppressed when police used live ammunition on protesters. An amendment to the Penal Code further restricted freedom of the press. Lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people continued to face persecution. Background Tensions increased throughout the year as civil society continued to express concerns about human rights violations, the deteriorating economic situation and bad governance. The British High Commissioner to Malawi was expelled in Read the full article…

Malawi: UN rights chief sounds alarm on sentencing of gay couple

Published by on May 25, 2010

Malawi: UN rights chief sounds alarm on sentencing of gay couple UN News Service, 21 May 2010 The sentencing of a gay couple in Malawi to 14 years in prison is “blatantly discriminatory,” the top United Nations human rights official said today, voicing concern over the precedent that this could set in the region.

Malawi: “Marriage Trial” Threatens Rights

Published by on April 2, 2010

Human Rights Watch, 2 April 2010 End Persecution over Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The attempt to convict two people whom the government accuses of breaking laws against homosexual conduct after they went through an engagement ceremony violates basic freedoms on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Read full article at Human Rights Watch