Human Rights of Women
Source: FOROYAA
The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition (SOAWR) based in 18 African countries have condemned the stripping of women wearing trousers and short skirts by male vendors in three major cities in Malawi namely Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre.
The Coalition maintains that Women's rights in Malawi are guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1982, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women that entered into force on 22 December 2000, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa of 2003 and the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, especially Chapter 4, sections 20 and 24 which focuses on the rights of women.
They pointed out that the instruments mentioned above have been ratified by the Government of Malawi in their bid to promote and protect women's rights. SOAWR thus regards this as a violation of women's bodily integrity, dignity and freedom to self-expression. In addition, these acts intimidate women and therefore limit their freedom of movement.
The Network is reassured that the Presidency in Malawi, the Minister of Gender and the Minister of Communication have publicly condemned the violations and the law enforcement agencies have arrested suspects.
They have urged the Government of Malawi and security agencies to be vigilant and protect women in Malawi. They further called upon the Government of Malawi to prosecute the accused within due process and to exercise zero tolerance to violations of women's rights. they also called for the Government to announce a programme of long-term sensitisation campaigns to change negative attitudes and behaviours in order to prevent a reoccurrence of these and other violations of women's rights,
The Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) Coalition is a pan-African regional network working towards the promotion and protection of women's human rights in Africa.