The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, or CHRR, is a human rights non-governmental organisation in Malawi. It was founded in February 1995 as a non-profit, apolitical, voluntary organization registered under the Trustees Incorporation Act of 1962. The organization was founded by former students exiles who returned home to the promises of a new democracy in 1994.
The organization is authorized to provide its services anywhere in Malawi. Its registration under Incorporation Act 1962 provides the basis that defines the organization's mandate and scope of work. Currently programmes are carried out in all the three regions namely Southern, Central and Northern Regions.
The organization supports and promotes a vibrant Malawian culture which embraces values of democracy and human rights. CHRR mission is to contribute towards the protection, promotion and consolidation of good governance by empowering rural and urban communities in Malawi to increase awareness of and exercise their rights through research, education, advocacy and networking in order to realize human development.
CHRR seeks to contribute towards the realization of this mission through a number of programmes carried out through two core programmes namely: Community Mobilization and Empowerment and Human Rights Monitoring and Training.
The following information is from CHRR director Undule Mwakasungura unless otherwise indicated. [1]
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) was founded in 1994. The group was founded by exiled students who left the country in the early 70s and 80s. They resumed life in other countries as business men and various professions. They returned in 1994 upon the introduction of multi party elections. The group decided to use their experience and expertise to promote the protection of human rights. The only remaining member of the founding group is current executive director Undule Mwakasungura.
Contribute towards the protection, promotion and consolidation of good governance by empowering rural and urban communities in Malawi to increase awareness of and exercise their rights through research, education, advocacy and networking in order to realize human development.
The following information comes from the CIA world fact book. [2]
Capital: Lilongwe
Population: 13,603,181 (2007 est.)
GDP per capita: $800 (2007 est.)
Type of Government: Multiparty democracy
History of current leader: Malawi, established in 1891, gained its independence from Britain in 1964. It held its first multi party election in 1994, after three decades of rule under President Hastings Kamuzu. President Bingu wa Mutharika, who was elected in May 2004, currently holds the position. He formed his own party called the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Malawi has seen some economic improvement, but because of a political deadlock in the legislature, Mutharika has been unable to pass significant legislation. This has stalled the fight against corruption.
Legal System: based on English common law, judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of appeal.
(following information from CHRR [1] )
CHRR has contributed to the promotion of human rights through programs like Civil Education: Bring awareness in communities through radio programs, community debates, training, and voter education. Research: CHRR has carried out research projects on issues related to governance, human rights, and other issues pertaining to governance and human rights. This research has been used as a tool for awareness and lobbying. Advocacy and Networking: CHRR has been in the forefront of advocacy for democratic governance. They have collaborated with organizations with similar interests.
Some of the networks they are a part of include:
Some of their partners include:
The following table gives specific case examples of work that CHRR has been involved in.
Country | Issue | Action |
---|---|---|
Zimbabwe | Political instability in the country (2006) | Took a public stance, calling the Southern African Development Community to take action in Zimbabwe [3] |
Malawi | Problems that have arisen from the overpopulation of Zimbabwean refugees. (2007) | Called public officials to offer more programs to deal with economic issues. [4] |
Malawi | Lucius Kamanga shot by police officer who was in the car of a member of Parliament (5/04) Felix Chikoti was arrested and beat while in | Offered the families a lawyer for litigation, and won settlements from the government for each of these families. [5] |
Malawi | World Bank national report: Governance and Corruption Baseline Survey Team, which is in place to assess the amount of corruption in Malawi and design methods of disseminating information. (5/2005) | B. Kondowe Participated in this committee on behalf of CHRR [6] |
Malawi | Controversy over Uranium mining project: Environmental and safety studies were done by company, rather than the government. Now there are accusations that the company lied about the results of these tests. (11/2006) | CHRR presented information in a press briefing in Lilongwe. Gave information on how mining could be detrimental. [7] |
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi and formerly known as Nyasaland, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km2 (45,747 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 19,431,566. Malawi's capital and largest city is Lilongwe. Its second-largest is Blantyre, its third-largest is Mzuzu and its fourth-largest is Zomba, the former capital.
Politics of Malawi takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Malawi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. There is a cabinet of Malawi that is appointed by the President of Malawi. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
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Robert Chasowa was a University of Malawi engineering student and political activist. Chasowa was the chair of a student activist group, Youth for Democracy (YFD). The YFD printed a weekly pro-democracy and anti-Bingu wa Mutharika administration newsletter called the Weekly Political Update that has circulation around the UNIMA campus. His mysterious death made international headlines but was ruled a suicide under the Bingu wa Mutharika administration. In October 2012, the results of a commission of inquiry led by President Joyce Banda's administration ruled his death as a murder.
Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula is a Malawian academic, feminist, educator and activist. Her scholarship focuses on African feminism.
Malawian diaspora refers to Malawian citizens and foreign nationals of Malawian descent who relocate—temporarily or permanently—to foreign countries. There are no reliable figures on how many Malawians live abroad. Populations of Malawians can be found in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Malawians have historically been an important supply of both skilled and unskilled labor to other countries. Malawians were a source of labor to the diamond and gold mines in Southern Africa, particularly South Africa. Many Malawian health professionals have migrated to the Global North in search of employment. The migration of skilled labor has contributed to the brain drain that is affecting many African nations.
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