Overview of Human Rights in Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a multiparty democracy. The government of Malawi works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens; however, there are still areas where problems persist. The security forces are known to use arbitrary arrest and detention as well as excessive force with suspects, detainees, and protestors. Prison conditions are harsh and often life threatening. In 2004, some 180 out of 9,000 prisoners died while in custody. Overcrowding, lack of medical attention, unsanitary conditions, and HIV/AIDS were the known causes of these deaths. The government limits citizens’ freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and workers’ rights. Forced child labor and human trafficking are other areas of concern. The government is starting to take steps to punish known human rights violators. For example, stiff penalties are now levied against child traffickers. The administration is also speaking out against corruption and police brutality.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

166th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.