Youth and Society Calls for Strong Political Will to Protect Refugee Rights in Malawi
YAS calls for political will to address refugee situation in Malawi.
Mzuzu, Malawi: Youth and Society (YAS) is calling for strong political will to address the current refugee situation in Malawi, writes Tionge Hara.
In a media briefing on Tuesday, YAS Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka said that the government must stop the relocation of refugees until it is ready to meet its human rights obligations.
Kajoloweka also urged the government to review the Refugees Act of 1989 to align it with the Bill of Rights.
Kajoloweka said that there is a growing narrative that refugees in Malawi are taking up small businesses traditionally owned by locals and pose a threat to national security.
However, he said that refugees have fundamental rights, such as the right to public relief and assistance and the right to housing.
YAS also called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to increase funding for refugee assistance in Malawi.
As of June 1, UNHCR has only received 15% of the $27.4 million it needs to adequately support refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi in 2023.
"We are calling on the government and UNHCR to work together to ensure that refugees in Malawi are able to live in safety and dignity," Kajoloweka said.
"They have the right to be protected from harm and to have access to essential services."
Samuel Kalimira, a journalist with the Times Group, said that he was impressed by YAS's efforts to engage journalists and raise awareness of the refugee issue in Malawi.
He called on his fellow journalists to report on the issue accurately and fairly.
"Refugees are often portrayed as a threat, but they are just people who have been forced to flee their homes," Kalimira said.
"We need to tell their stories and show that they deserve our compassion and support."
The media briefing was part of the celebrations of World Refugee Day by YAS.