Malawi | VP Chihana urges that human rights protection must start in families and communities, closing the 16 Days of Activism. Calls out ongoing rights violations and highlights govt steps on school fees and the “four Fs”. UN Women stresses rights as daily essentials.

The Second Vice President Enock Chihana has urged citizens in the country to take an active role in protecting their rights and the rights of others, stressing that the defence of human dignity must begin within families and communities.
Speaking on Wednesday in Nkhata Bay, during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day and the official closing ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Chihana said many Malawians still rely on the law and government institutions, forgetting that everyday actions play a critical role in safeguarding rights.
The Second Vice President said its sad and shameful that Malawi continues to grapple with human rights violations more than 30 years after returning to democracy in 1964.
He said the country should now be shifting its focus to development rather than repeatedly dealing with rights abuses.
He further reaffirmed government’s commitment to uplifting people’s welfare, highlighting measures such as the removal of secondary school fees and prioritisation of what he termed the “four Fs”—food, fertilizer, fuel and forex.
UN Women Country representative, Letty Chiwara noted that this year’s theme “Human Rights Everyday Essentials” reminds Malawians that rights are not theoretical but central to daily life.
In her remarks, Executive Director for the Foundation for Children’s Rights Jennifer Mkandawire observed that although the number of reported child abuse cases is rising, this reflects improved awareness rather than increased violation
