By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, May 22, Mana: The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has bemoaned the challenges faced by the Malawi Prison Service in ensuring the rights of detained persons are upheld.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement meeting on the rights of detained persons and implementation of the new Prison law, Commissioner at the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Andrew Kavala emphasized the importance of implementing the new Prison Law, which was recently passed by Parliament.

"Prisons are overcrowded, with some facilities having a ratio of 1:11, far exceeding the recommended ratio of 1:5, and many correctional facilities struggle to provide sufficient food to inmates.

“Living conditions in prisons do not meet minimum standards, with congestion causing challenges in areas such as food supply, health, and sanitation" he said.

Kavala said MHRC has carried out awareness meetings in prisons and at community level to promote the rights of prisoners.

“We are working with stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the new Prison Law, let us collaborate to ensure this law's successful execution" he said.

Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Albert Mbawala said the new law is expected to bring about reforms in the prison system, aligning with constitutional and international human rights standards.

"There are things that the new law will shed more lights on, such as the supervision of people receiving sentences outside of prison" he said.

Meanwhile Head of the Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA), Victor Mhango has expressed optimism that the country's president will assent to the law just like he has done with other economic laws.