Chakwera declares five commitments towards promoting Human Rights

His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera in Blantyre with a human rights activist 

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

President Lazarus Chakwera has  declared five commitments of his administration towards promotion of Human Rights in Malawi.

Speaking when the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Human Rights Day at a ceremony held at Chigumukire School ground in Blantyre, Chakwera said this year’s Human Rights Day that coincided with the country’s Silver Jubilee and the global Diamond Jubilee gave him an opportunity to announce five commitments that he recently made to the international community on behalf of Malawi.

Listing the commitments during the ceremony, President Chakwera said; “Ours is a commitment to actively engage in the United Nations human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies; Ours is a commitment to adopt legislation and policies that provide enhanced protection for marginalized groups, including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities so that ‘No one is left behind’.

Ours is a commitment to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the promotion and protection of human rights by strengthening oversight bodies and public institutions; Ours is a commitment to develop and implement a Business and Human Rights Action Plan, which will serve as a framework for ensuring the businesses adhere to human rights principles at all times. Ours is a commitment to enhance the adoption of climate-resilient and sustainable practices in all sectors of Malawi to address the effects of climate change on the rights of people of Malawi” outlined President Chakwera.

He then told the nation that the international relationships that his administration has built over the past three years have been of great benefit to Malawi in many ways and occasions including the time the country was hit by Cyclone Freddy; the attendance of delegates from across the world to the Malawi Partners Conference he held in New York during UNGA where they pledged half a billion dollars in support for post-cyclone reconstruction; the way countries around the world supported Malawi to secure an Extended Credit Facility with IMF and the budgetary support to help Malawi achieve macro-economic stability and food security.

President Chakwera has since commended the Malawi Human Rights Commission for its commitment that has ensured that Malawi’s seat on the UN Human Rights Council and Malawi’s A-Status as a top-class human rights adherent are retained.

Speaking earlier, Commissioner Teresa Ndanga said celebrating 75 years of the existence of the Universal declaration of Human Rights known as the Human Rights 75 initiative proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10th December, 1948 to universally protect the Human Rights, and 25 years in operation of MHRC, Malawians have to reflect on whether what the declaration envisioned has, or continued to be a living reality.

This year’s International Human Rights Day has been commemorated under the theme “Freedom, Equality, and Justice for all”