By Yankho Kandio

Salima, March 27, Mana: The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has urged Salima District Council officials to integrate a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) into their service delivery to ensure that citizens’ rights are respected and upheld.

Speaking on Wednesday, during a one-day capacity-building workshop on HRBA, Deborah Tambulasi Banda, Deputy Director for MHRC, emphasized the importance of equipping duty-bearers with necessary knowledge and skills to mainstream human rights principles in governance and public service.

“This meeting was essentially aimed at building the capacity of District Council officials to incorporate human rights considerations into their interventions,” Banda stated.

“We expect that what they have learned here will not only be applied in their daily work but also be shared with others within their respective offices,” she said.

The training, which is part of a nationwide initiative by MHRC, seeks to strengthen the ability of local councils to provide equitable, rights-based services that align with human rights standards.

Banda noted that effective governance requires that duty-bearers understand and uphold the rights of the people they serve.

Director of Planning and Development for Salima District Council, Eric Kenamu, described the workshop as an eye-opener that would transform how the council approaches service delivery.

“This training has broadened our perspective on how human rights relate to our work,” Kenamu said.

He added: “We now understand that every decision we make has a direct impact on people’s rights, and we are committed to ensuring that we uphold these principles in all areas of service delivery."

The HRBA workshops are being conducted in all districts across Malawi, with MHRC officials emphasizing the need for councils to move beyond merely fulfilling their duties and actively promote a rights-centered approach in governance.

With similar engagements already held in other districts, MHRC continues to advocate for inclusive, people-centered development that respects fundamental human rights.