Country detail - yourHRC.org

Malawi

Regional group:

African Group (AG)

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	–
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2023) :

Other HRC positions:	Member of Working Group on Situations (2023)
OHCHR presence:	Human Rights Adviser
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): No

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka

Voting record

Since it became a member of the Council in 2021, Malawi has voted in favour of most item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention) resolutions, including resolutions on the Syrian Arab Republic, Iran, and Ukraine, and a 2021 text on Belarus. Malawi has voted against the 2021 texts on the situation in Burundi and abstained during voting on the resolutions on Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and the situation in South Sudan. Turning to item 7 resolutions, Malawi has tended to abstain or vote against, except during voting on a 2023 text on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Malawi has joined consensus or voted in favour of all item 10 resolutions (capacity-building) voted during the time it was a member. Turning to thematic resolutions, Malawi has tended to vote in favour although it abstained during the 2021 texts on the question of the death penalty and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

262

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 86

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on internally displaced persons, 2016

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CERD
26 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2010, 2015, 2020)

Mid-term report

Level of delegation

Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 0 / 192

2^nd cycle: 0 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2023)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Malawi presented voluntary pledges and commitments in support of its candidature for the period 2021-2023 on 28 August 2020. At the international level, the Government of Malawi pledged, among other things to continue participating in key human rights institutions, including the Council; enhance cooperation with the UN Special Procedures; submit outstanding reports and improve engagement with UN treaty bodies; advocate for the strengthening of international institutions as a means of sustaining global peace; and continue supporting the work of OHCHR.

An analysis of the steps taken by Malawi to fulfil its international-level pledges shows that the country indeed participates in Council debates and dialogues, delivering individual statements in almost 35% of these meetings. Malawi maintains a standing invitation to Special Procedures but only responded to 36% of the communications received and facilitated 40% of all requested visits. Regarding engagement with Treaty Bodies, Malawi has only accepted one individual communications procedure (under the ICCPR) and has four overdue periodic reports, one of which, under the CESCR, was due 26 years ago. Malawi hosts an OHCHR Human Rights Adviser.

Malawi

African Group (AG)

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 0 / 192

2nd cycle: 0 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges:

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 0 / 192

2^nd cycle: 0 / 192