Malawi human rights record has again come under close scrutiny with campaigners reporting that the country has witnessed some continued erosion of rights in the first 100 days of President Bingu wa Mutharikas (pictured) final term of office. Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) statement assessing Mutharikas first 100 days of his fresh mandate to rule until 2014 gave a chilling account of how rights issues have further backslid.
What is most disconcerting are trends that bear semblances to things that had been assumed to have ended with the MCP regime voted out of power in 1994, and some during 10 years of United Democratic Front rule, CHRR statement issued by its head Undule Mwakasungula said.
According to the rights group, issues of concern relative to human rights which continued in the 100 days of Mutharika administration as carry overs have included the Protection of Children, especially the Girl Child to safety from molestation.
The local rights watchdog said reports of defilement of infants and young girls as well as sexual assault of teenage girls continued incrementally to fill Malawi news media.
It also noted that protection from gender violence, especially for Women: violence against women has taken on barbaric forms.
CHRR also highlighted the problem of right of offenders to protection of offenders from cruel and inhumane treatment and extra-judicial killings by the police.
Despite police reform efforts and efforts by human rights and civic organizations to educate the law enforcers and state security officials on human and civil rights, reports of deaths of suspects in police custody continue to occur as a result of torture, said CHRR.
On right to safety and personal security, the statement said: Armed robberies against the business community are increasing and this has compromised the rights to movements, development in terms of business operations, it added And the killing of people has been on the increase, spurred by a suspected lucrative trade in human parts and also for ritual purposes.
CHRR said at justice level, many cases are not addressed as courts have been countering many challenges.
The courts should be vehicles for facilitating justice and justice should serve national interest, it said.
Rights campaigners said the rights of people living with HIV and Aids have been violated.
Most of them have been denied access and benefits to national developmental programme such as loans, these programmes could help them live a meaning life as Malawians, said the rights group.
CHRR pointed out that although the first Mutharika administration have been characterised by a constant challenge for those charged with promotion of respect for democratic rule of law, constitutionalism, protection and promotion of human rights, in his final term his administration is looking forward to work with rights bodies and organisation in consolidating human rights and good governance in Malawi.
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