afrol News / The Chronicle, 12 September - The Commissioner of the Malawi Human Rights Commission John Kapito has disclosed that in some instances, the state is failing to protect the rights and dignity of the bonafide citizens of the country, a thing he said has led to an increase in human rights violations.

Kapito said women fail to file divorce applications under very difficult circumstances for fear of taking the responsibility of caring for themselves and children due to Government’s failure in taking over the responsibilities under such circumstances.

He said it is the responsibility of Government to look after people who can not take good care of themselves and noted that the state is apparently failing to fulfil that obligation hence an increase in human rights violations.

“It is the duty of Government to take care of children under the provisions in the Child’s Rights Convention (CRC) declaration but we are failing to do that. As a result, women fail to either divorce their husbands for fear of what would befall them later if they attempt to take over the responsibility of taking care for the children,” he said.

On the other hand, Kapito noted that the commission is also failing to fulfil its obligations due to inadequate funding and called on the executive branch of Government to see to it that the commission is furnished with adequate funding for it to effectively operate.

“Government must be held accountable but am sorry to say that as a commission we are failing to do that simply because we have very limited resources. We have convinced Members of Parliament and other policy formulators to consider increasing allocations to the commission and we are trying to convince the executive as of now. Our health and education records at the UN are very bad, but these are basic human rights, “ he said.

He has since called on the media to monitor how Government spend the money realised from the apparently prominent debt cancellation so that the resources go towards supporting human rights and good governance.



BY Arnold Mnelemba

© afrol News / The Chronicle

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