News
YAS, other CSOs decry
worsening economic
inequality as Malawi
Celebrates
International Human
Rights Day.
By staff reporter
Human
rights
and
governance
watchdog
Youth
and
Society
(YAS)
and
its
collaborating
civil
society
organizations
(CSOs)
have
decried
economic
inequality
in
Malawi
exacerbated
by
the
current
economic
hardships,
describing
it
as
“the
worst”
in
recent years.
YAS
and
its
partners
have
since
said
need
to
address
the
current
wave
of
economic
inequality
and
vulnerabilities
“is
urgent
and
should
become
a
radical
agenda
of
the
government
and
various
stakeholders with active participation of the poor”.
The
sentiments
are
contained
in
a
statement
titled:
A
Call
for
Action
against
Socio-Economic
Inequality
in
Malawi,
which
was
issued
on
the
commemoration of the International Human Rights Day on Friday, 10 December, 2021.
The
statement
is
signed
by
YAS
Executive
Director
Charles
Kajoloweka,
on
behalf
of
partners
that,
among
others,
include;
Human
Rights
Resource
Centre,
Catholic
Commission
for
Justice
and
Peace,
Malawi
Economic
Justice
Network,
Natural
Resources
Justice
Network,
Church and Society of Blantyre Synod, CARD, and Luntha TV.
The theme for this year's International Human Rights Day this year is “Equality: reducing inequalities, advancing human rights”.
According
to
YAS
and
partners,
this
year’s
celebration
seeks
to
reinvigorate
the
global
fight
against
inequality,
with
reference
to
Article
1
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
The
CSOs
say,
in
the
same
spirit,
Chapter
4
of
the
Constitution
of
the
Republic
of
Malawi
guarantees
all
fundamental
rights
including
human dignity and equality.
“This
year’s
theme
is
significant
to
a
majority
of
Malawians
as
it
coincides
with
the
worsening
economic
hardships
faced
by
the
marginalized
and
poor
masses
marked
by
high
cost
of
living
and
lack
of
basic
economic
opportunities,
a
significant
threat
to
enjoyment
of
basic human rights as enshrined in both international and domestic laws.
It
is
important
to
note
that
the
country’s
economic
inequality
has
significantly
worsened
in
recent
years
with
the
Gini-coefficient
pegged
at
0.45, with over 51 percent of the population still trapped below the poverty line.
Pervasive
inequalities,
largely
evidenced
by
the
increasing
income
gap
between
the
rich
few
and
poor
majority,
inequitable
access
to
education, health and social services continue to undermine the Malawian development agenda,” reads the statement in part.
It
goes
on
to
state
that,
while
Malawi
remains
“one
of
the
epicenters
of
global
extreme
poverty”,
reports
show
that
the
country’s
wealth
and power is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few.
The
statement
says,
as
the
wealth
of
the
few
grows
higher,
the
poorest
are
left
behind
and
so
the
vicious
circle
of
poverty
is
perpetuated
with the system only working for the rich few.
“Despite
being
in
majority,
the
youth
and
women
continue
to
face
violent
exclusion
from
politics
and
life
opportunities.
The
story
is
not
any
better
for
people
with
disabilities
and
the
elderly.
The
adverse
impact
of
Covid
19
pandemic
has
further
exacerbated
poverty
and
vulnerabilities of marginalized masses,” it adds.
YAS and partners also observe that extreme inequality is deepening poverty and has left the poor masses frustrated.
They
say
this
is
increasing
public
distrust
in
government
and
democracy
as
the
masses
struggle
to
meet
basic
needs
and
services
such
as
food, access to health care, clean water, access to education, housing and employment opportunities – better living standards.
“We
wish
to
reiterate
that
poverty
is
a
form
of
deprivation,
hence
constitutes
a
violation
of
human
rights
and
is
unacceptable.
It
is
therefore
not
by
coincidence
that
section
30
of
the
Constitution
of
the
Republic
of
Malawi
guarantees
all
persons
the
right
to
development
and
obligates
the
State
to
take
measures
for
the
realization
of
this
right
by,
among
others,
ensuring
equality
of
opportunity
for all in their access to basic resources, education, health services, food, shelter, employment and infrastructure.
The
State
is
also
called
upon
to
take
measures
to
introduce
reforms
aimed
at
eradicating
social
injustices
and
inequalities.
Most
crucially,
section
13
of
the
Constitution
enjoins
the
government
to
adopt
policies
and
legislation
to
enhance
the
quality
of
life
in
rural
communities
and to recognize rural standards of living as a key indicator of the success of government policies,” further reads the statement.
It
adds
that,
as
such,
the
socio-economic
rights
are
justiciable
and
enforceable
rights
and
that
government
has
the
obligation
to
respect,
promote, protect and fulfil these fundamental rights.
The
statement
says
there
is
the
urgent
need
for
the
Government
of
Malawi
to
create
a
conducive
environment
for
the
rural
masses
to
actively participate in productive economic initiatives and decision making processes that directly affect their lives.
But
YAS
and
partners
have
commended
the
Government
of
Malawi
for
laying
out
the
Malawi
2063,
the
country’s
long
term
development
agenda, which they say, if well implemented, will significantly address Malawi’s development challenges.
“We
equally
commend
Government’s
current
efforts
in
the
fight
against
corruption
as
evidenced
by
growing
political
will
to
hold
the
individuals
and
businesses
to
account.
We
are
confident
that
resources
recovered
from
the
same
will
be
channeled
towards
fighting
inequalities especially in the areas of education, health and social protection,” concludes the statement.
OTHER News
YAS Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka,
YAS, other CSOs rue gaps in
implementation of access
to information law in
Malawi
By staff reporter
A
consortium
of
Youth
and
Society
(YAS),
Oxfam
and
Development
Communication
Trust
(DCT)
has
expressed
concern
over
"some
significant
gaps"
in
the
implementation
of
the
Access
to
Information
(ATI)
Act
and
operating
environment
for
the
effective realization of the right to information.
READ MORE
YAS takes ATI Act to Local
Councils: Calls for strict
compliance by public
officials
By staff reporter
In
its
bid
to
contribute
towards
the
successful
implementation
of
the
Access
to
Information
Act
(ATIA),
Youth
and
Society
(YAS)
has
taken
the
dissemination
of
the
Access
to
Information
Act
(ATIA)
and
ATIA
Guidelines to district councils.
READ MORE
News
YAS, other CSOs decry
worsening economic
inequality as Malawi
Celebrates International
Human Rights Day.
Wanangwa Mtawali-Nyasa Times
Human
rights
and
governance
watchdog
Youth
and
Society
(YAS)
and
its
collaborating
civil
society
organizations
(CSOs)
have
decried
economic
inequality
in
Malawi
exacerbated
by
the
current
economic
hardships, describing it as “the worst” in recent years.
YAS
and
its
partners
have
since
said
need
to
address
the
current
wave
of
economic
inequality
and
vulnerabilities
“is
urgent
and
should
become
a
radical
agenda
of
the
government
and
various
stakeholders
with
active
participation of the poor”.
The
sentiments
are
contained
in
a
statement
titled:
A
Call
for
Action
against
Socio-Economic
Inequality
in
Malawi,
which
was
issued
on
the
commemoration
of
the
International
Human
Rights
Day
on
Friday,
10
December,
2021.
The
statement
is
signed
by
YAS
Executive
Director
Charles
Kajoloweka,
on
behalf
of
partners
that,
among
others,
include;
Human
Rights
Resource
Centre,
Catholic
Commission
for
Justice
and
Peace,
Malawi
Economic
Justice
Network,
Natural
Resources
Justice
Network,
Church
and
Society
of
Blantyre
Synod,
CARD,
and Luntha TV.
The
theme
for
this
year's
International
Human
Rights
Day
this
year
is
“Equality:
reducing
inequalities,
advancing
human rights”.
According
to
YAS
and
partners,
this
year’s
celebration
seeks
to
reinvigorate
the
global
fight
against
inequality,
with
reference
to
Article
1
of
the
Universal
Declaration
of
Human
Rights,
which
recognizes
that
“all
human
beings
are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
The
CSOs
say,
in
the
same
spirit,
Chapter
4
of
the
Constitution
of
the
Republic
of
Malawi
guarantees
all
fundamental
rights
including
human
dignity
and
equality.
“This
year’s
theme
is
significant
to
a
majority
of
Malawians
as
it
coincides
with
the
worsening
economic
hardships
faced
by
the
marginalized
and
poor
masses
marked
by
high
cost
of
living
and
lack
of
basic
economic
opportunities,
a
significant
threat
to
enjoyment
of
basic
human
rights
as
enshrined
in
both
international and domestic laws.
It
is
important
to
note
that
the
country’s
economic
inequality
has
significantly
worsened
in
recent
years
with
the
Gini-coefficient
pegged
at
0.45,
with
over
51
percent
of
the
population
still
trapped
below
the
poverty line.
Pervasive
inequalities,
largely
evidenced
by
the
increasing
income
gap
between
the
rich
few
and
poor
majority,
inequitable
access
to
education,
health
and
social
services
continue
to
undermine
the
Malawian
development agenda,” reads the statement in part.
It
goes
on
to
state
that,
while
Malawi
remains
“one
of
the
epicenters
of
global
extreme
poverty”,
reports
show
that
the
country’s
wealth
and
power
is
increasingly
concentrated in the hands of a few.
The
statement
says,
as
the
wealth
of
the
few
grows
higher,
the
poorest
are
left
behind
and
so
the
vicious
circle
of
poverty
is
perpetuated
with
the
system
only
working for the rich few.
“Despite
being
in
majority,
the
youth
and
women
continue
to
face
violent
exclusion
from
politics
and
life
opportunities.
The
story
is
not
any
better
for
people
with
disabilities
and
the
elderly.
The
adverse
impact
of
Covid
19
pandemic
has
further
exacerbated
poverty
and
vulnerabilities of marginalized masses,” it adds.
YAS
and
partners
also
observe
that
extreme
inequality
is
deepening
poverty
and
has
left
the
poor
masses
frustrated.
They
say
this
is
increasing
public
distrust
in
government
and
democracy
as
the
masses
struggle
to
meet
basic
needs
and
services
such
as
food,
access
to
health
care,
clean
water,
access
to
education,
housing
and
employment opportunities – better living standards.
“We
wish
to
reiterate
that
poverty
is
a
form
of
deprivation,
hence
constitutes
a
violation
of
human
rights
and
is
unacceptable.
It
is
therefore
not
by
coincidence
that
section
30
of
the
Constitution
of
the
Republic
of
Malawi
guarantees
all
persons
the
right
to
development
and
obligates
the
State
to
take
measures
for
the
realization
of
this
right
by,
among
others,
ensuring
equality
of
opportunity
for
all
in
their
access
to
basic
resources,
education,
health
services,
food,
shelter,
employment and infrastructure.
The
State
is
also
called
upon
to
take
measures
to
introduce
reforms
aimed
at
eradicating
social
injustices
and
inequalities.
Most
crucially,
section
13
of
the
Constitution
enjoins
the
government
to
adopt
policies
and
legislation
to
enhance
the
quality
of
life
in
rural
communities
and
to
recognize
rural
standards
of
living
as
a
key
indicator
of
the
success
of
government
policies,” further reads the statement.
It
adds
that,
as
such,
the
socio-economic
rights
are
justiciable
and
enforceable
rights
and
that
government
has
the
obligation
to
respect,
promote,
protect
and
fulfil
these fundamental rights.
The
statement
says
there
is
the
urgent
need
for
the
Government
of
Malawi
to
create
a
conducive
environment
for
the
rural
masses
to
actively
participate
in
productive
economic
initiatives
and
decision
making
processes that directly affect their lives.
But
YAS
and
partners
have
commended
the
Government
of
Malawi
for
laying
out
the
Malawi
2063,
the
country’s
long
term
development
agenda,
which
they
say,
if
well
implemented,
will
significantly
address
Malawi’s development challenges.
“We
equally
commend
Government’s
current
efforts
in
the
fight
against
corruption
as
evidenced
by
growing
political
will
to
hold
the
individuals
and
businesses
to
account.
We
are
confident
that
resources
recovered
from
the
same
will
be
channeled
towards
fighting
inequalities
especially
in
the
areas
of
education,
health
and social protection,” concludes the statement.
OTHER News
YAS, other CSOs rue gaps in
implementation of access to
information law in Malawi
By staff reporter
A
consortium
of
Youth
and
Society
(YAS),
Oxfam
and
Development
Communication
Trust
(DCT)
has
expressed
concern
over
"some
significant
gaps"
in
the
implementation
of
the
Access
to
Information
(ATI)
Act
and
operating
environment
for
the
effective
realization
of the right to information.
READ MORE
YAS Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka,
YAS takes ATI Act to Local
Councils: Calls for strict
compliance by public
officials
By staff reporter
In
its
bid
to
contribute
towards
the
successful
implementation
of
the
Access
to
Information
Act
(ATIA),
Youth
and
Society
(YAS)
has
taken
the
dissemination
of
the
Access
to
Information
Act
(ATIA)
and
ATIA
Guidelines to district councils.
READ MORE
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