Malawi needs to sharpen its focus on the connections between climate change, human rights and environmental protection, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said, warning that vulnerable communities continue to shoulder the worst effects of the climate crisis. Speaking at a joint UNDP and Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) media engagement on environmental and […]
For many Malawians, the search for work abroad begins with hope — but for some, it ends in exploitation. As Malawi marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July, officials and rights groups are warning that deceptive recruitment continues to trap citizens in abusive conditions overseas, particularly in Oman and the United Arab […]
“We want to know how much was spent, misspent, and how much was stolen.” The Chakwera administration must explain to the people of Malawi how much of the K17.5 billion was spent, unspent, misspent and how much was stolen as well as the identities of those who mismanaged the money meant for public health emergency, […]
“This (increased) is a worrisome development in as far as promoting girl-child rights is concerned.” Malawi has recorded a staggering spike of more than 40, 000 in teenage pregnancies within the eight months of school break due to the global novel Covid-19 pandemic. Plan International Malawi and Organisation for Sustainable Social Economic Development Initiative (OSSEDI) […]
The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has joined hands with National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) by establishing complaints handling structures in Kasungu District to enable every to speed up process when people want to access justice. MHRC executive secretary Habiba Osman told the media in Kasungu that the complaints handling structures will be across […]
State run rights activists, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has cautioned political parties participating in the March 30 by-elections against acts of violence. The commission’s executive secretary, Habiba Osman says in a statement that MHRC has observed with concern what happened in Nsanje Central constituency last week where members of the Democratic Progressive Party […]
Malawi Human Rights Commissioner (MHRC) has warmed government against closure of schools without a well thought strategy. MHRC says closing schools is not best solution because Covid-19 is likely to stay for long and doing so would affect the socio-economic status of teachers and other workers. “Government should come up with measures that enable right […]
Human rights lawyer Habiba Osman has been appointed Executive Secretary for Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) while governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali has got the hot at the same State-funded rights body as director. Osman, who currently works for UN Women Malawi office, replaces David Nungu whose contract has expired. She is expected to […]
Officials from the UN Women have revealed that they will extend a Women Economic Empowerment Project (WEEP) in Salima and Dedza, for a period of one year, with the aim of supporting girls rescued from child marriages. Briefing reporters in Salima on Tuesday after presenting the project to the district executive committee, UN women, elimination […]
As Members of Parliament (MPs) are expected to conclude business this Friday, the Malawi Network Against Child Trafficking (MNACT) has requested law makers to pass the Trafficking in Persons Bill. The Bill seeks to prevent, fight and eliminate issues pertaining to trafficking in persons and also increase participation of communities in understanding the issues, and […]
A Network Against Human Trafficking is urging Malawi Members of Parliament to pass legislation on human trafficking which is expected to be tabled in Parliament this Thursday. Addressing the news conference at Norwegian Church Aid offices in Lilongwe, Wednesday, Habiba Osman, taskforce chairperson for the Network Against Human Trafficking, said that human trafficking is a form […]
Police in Phalombe district have rescued five children from the hands of two traffickers who were on their way to Mozambique. The children aged between 13 and 17 are currently being kept at Phalombe Police Station waiting to be taken back to their respective homes. Phalombe police Public Relations Officer, Augustus Nkhwazi told Nyasa Times […]
One evening while attending a trafficking in persons workshop organised by the Southern Africa Network Against Trafficking and Abuse of Children (SANTAC) in South Africa, I sat on a table next to some journalists from SADC Countries. While it was not my intention to eavesdrop, I keenly followed their conversation, which centred on those countries […]
Malawi government has paid K15 million compensation to four human rights activists and a youth arrested in October 2011 during the previous brutal Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rule. Rights campaigner Billy Mayaya, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, lawyer Habiba Osman, politician Brian Nyasulu and Osman’s cousin, Comfort Chitseko, were locked up in October 2011 for a demonstration […]
A civil rights activist has asked Malawi government to apologise to the nation following revelations that Lilongwe did not sign an agreement with South Korea on the controversial labour export deal. Habiba Osman told Nyasa Times that Minister of Labour Eunice Makangala or any government officials should make a public apology over the issues. “Someone […]
Former information minister Patricia Kaliati will remain as one courageous “village idiot” who made efforts to fight child trafficking through strengthening legislative measures, activists have said. Talkative Kaliati was praised by anti-trafficking expert and advocate Habiba Rezwana Osman for her concerted effort to have the 2010 Child Care and Justice Protection Bill enacted into law […]
*Every little girl has a dream. Some want to marry a prince. Others long to marry the rich and famous. But for one Habiba Osman, a civil rights activist, lawyer and human trafficking expert, her dreams were only about one thing – to defend the innocent and defenceless – and she always knew she wanted […]
Malawi government has been asked to take the Trafficking in Persons bill to parliament for deliberations and pass it into law. Cabinet is reported to have approved the bill last year. Habiba Osman, one of the country’s top human rights lawyers, said many children from Malawi are also taken to other neighbouring countries, such as Zambia, Mozambique […]