LAB officers on the Bureau's pavilion
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting governance institutions in the country to give them more fighting power for the protection of human rights.
This was said during the recent commemoration of the 2023 International Human Rights Day which took place at Chigumukire Primary School ground in Chileka, Blantyre.
It comes amid continued concerns by the institutions that financial challenges are mainly affecting the works of assisting indigent Malawians.
President Chakwera has hinted that institutions like the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Legal Aid Bureau, and the Office of the Ombudsman require the utmost assistance that can be rendered to them.
“I call on the private sector and our development partners who claim to care about human rights to put their money where their mouth is by supporting these top-performing governance institutions with resources and tools needed to enforce the human rights laws we already have,” added Chakwera.
According to the President, the private sector has a responsibility to observe human rights of Malawians in the way they conduct their businesses.
In his address on the day, Minister of Justice, Titus Mvalo, commended the Bureau for the efforts it is making in reaching most parts of the country with legal aid.
Mvalo pointed out that access to justice is not only about having access to Courts or lawyers, but ensuring that the services are affordable.
“It is pleasing to know that Legal Aid Bureau has established offices in 17 districts in Malawi, thereby making it possible for the local man to access justice at council level. We are hoping in future that we can go further down to a constituency level so that access to legal representation becomes a reality,” emphasized Mvalo.
The day also marked the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights on 10 December 1948, which enables nations to assess progress in the promotion of human rights and freedoms.
The event, organized by MHRC, brought together different stakeholders whose works center on the promotion of human rights in Malawi.
The Bureau participated by mounting a pavilion that displayed its works and successes over the years.
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