Pan African Parliament makes the case for women’s and children’s rights in Malawi

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) delegation has secured the commitment of the Minister of Justice Hon. Titus MVALO to ensure that the Republic of Malawi ratifies and domesticates all AU instruments that guarantee the rights and protection of women and children. Malawi has ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa and the Protocol African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The meeting with the Minister of Justice sought to discuss the progress made in domesticating AU Treaties and Protocol especially related to women and Children. The PAP delegation also appealed to the Minister to clear any judiciary hurdles standing in the way of ratifying other AU Treaties and Protocols including the Malabo Protocol.

“The mission of the PAP is to provide a common platform for African peoples to represent, and to act as a voice of the people of Africa. We are also called upon to hold the governing institutions of the AU accountable in the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of our people. We therefore commend Malawi for the progress made in protecting the rights of women and children and we call on the authorities to continue strengthening mechanisms in place,” said Hon. Bouras DJAMEL, Acting President of the PAP.

PAP’s Acting President recognized the commitment by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met by the delegation a day earlier, and reiterated by the Minister of Justice, to ratify the PAP Protocol to enable the PAP to facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the AU as per its mandate.

Hon. Chief Fortune CHARUMBIRA, Vice President of the PAP says that it’s important for AU member states to continuously monitor the functioning of the organs of the Union and ensure that they deliver on their mandates. According to the Vice President, this exercise will ensure that countries adhere to continental aspirations and speed up ratifications of AU instruments.

“Justice Ministries are every important to the seamless implementation of AU policies and domestication of legal instruments at national level. It’s therefore important that these ministries get involved in reviewing the functioning our Union and its organs. Malawi’s recent presidential elections demonstrated the maturity of its judiciary. We are confident that the country will be a model for the continent in this area,” said Hon. Charumbira.

Hon. Djibril WAR (Senegal), Chairperson of the PAP Committee on Rules and Privileges engaged the Minister on lockdown regulations in the light of COVID-19 and hailed the continent’s response with a focus on how governments are able to balance the rights of citizens and their health.

Hon. Aurélien-Simplice ZINGAS (Central African Republic), Chairperson of the PAP Committee on health sought to understand how the country with the pandemic in general. He also sought clarity from the Minister on how prisoners’ rights were being guaranteed during the ongoing health crisis.

Hon. Pemmy MADJODINA (South Africa) urged the Minister of Justice to step up the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide. She highlighted the importance of taking decisions against these crimes to guarantee the safety of women on the continent.

In his response to members of the PAP delegation, Hon. Mvalo indicated that Malawi values the PAP. It’s for this reason that the government has resolved to ratify the Malabo Protocol. The Minister further praised the PAP for its role in advocating for the domestication of AU Treaties and Protocols while signaling his will to collaborate with the PAP on areas requiring urgent attention of his Ministry.

“Malawi is a revitalized and a key player on the international scene and a fervent defender of human rights and democracy.” concluded the Minister.

Source: PAP Media Office