By Pemphero Malimba:
Global non-governmental organisation International Justice Mission (IJM) has pledged to support Malawi in improving access to justice for children and women.
IJM Chief Programmes Officer for Africa and Europe Simon Manning said this after meeting Justice Minister Charles Mhango at Capital Hill in Lilongwe Tuesday.
Manning said people in the country continue to face challenges in accessing justice, including long delays despite efforts by various stakeholders.
He added that Malawi has not improved its status since IJM’s 2022 findings, which highlighted persistent access to justice issues.
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“One of the key gaps we identified in 2022 and which remains is access to justice. This concerns the ability of survivors of violent crime to access justice services and have their cases supported throughout the often-lengthy process.
“For example, as we discussed with the minister, it can take many months or even years from the time a crime is reported to the conclusion of the judicial process,” he said.
Manning said IJM intends to work with the government to strengthen the justice system, particularly in dealing with cases involving women and children.
Mhango acknowledged that Malawi continues to face challenges in some areas of the justice system. He cited the lack of housing facilities for children and women who offend the law.
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“For example, in Karonga and Rumphi, there are no facilities for women and children who have offended. Sometimes they are transferred to Chitipa, which is not ideal,” he said.
He said the government would make proposals through Cabinet and the Ministry of Homeland Security to provide appropriate facilities.
Mhango also reiterated the need for specialised training for magistrates handling cases related to women and children.
“Magistrates need training to handle gender-related cases or cases involving victims or offenders. IJM can support us through capacity building and training, which is where collaboration will take place,” he said.
IJM is a global non-governmental organisation founded in 1997 to protect vulnerable people from violence, slavery and exploitation. Headquartered in Washington DC, United States, IJM partners with local justice systems across Africa, Asia and Latin America to strengthen law enforcement and ensure lasting protection.
