Malawians urged to treat refugees with dignity, respect
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has urged Malawians to treat refugees and asylum seekers in the country with dignity and respect.
Speaking during a regional stakeholder engagement meeting at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre on Friday June 28,2024,MHRC commissioner Andrew Kavala highlighted the importance of respecting refugees saying this helps in tackling critical issues and promoting the rights of displaced individuals within the country.
Reflecting on the past, Kavala said Malawi had experienced hiccups in 2022 relocation exercise, which exposed gaps in tracking and managing refugee populations across the country with different quotas suggesting a review of the 1989 Refugee Act by the Law Commission, with participation from the MHRC, as a crucial step towards improving refugee management in Malawi.
He said MHRC, with funding from the European Union Embassy, is implementing a two-year project titled “Promotion and Protection of Rights of Refugees and other Migrants in Malawi,” which commenced in February 2024.
The event brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, faith leaders, local chiefs, and political figures.
Approximately, Malawi is keeping 55,000 refugees and asylum seekers at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa.
