December 2016

Refugee Documentation Centre

Country Information Pack

MALAWI

Disclaimer Country Information Packs (CIPs) are prepared by researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Refugee Documentation Centre within time constraints. CIPs contain a selection of representative links to sources under a number of categories for use as Country of Origin Information. Links are correct at the time of publication. Please note that CIPs are not, and do not purport to be, exhaustive with regard to conditions in the countries surveyed or conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or protection. The General Human Rights Reports category contains links to information which may be useful for a number of the other categories.

Contents 1. Nationality/Citizenship/Residency ...... 3 2. Maps ...... 3 3. Local Information/Languages/Culture/Customs ...... 3 4. General Human Rights Reports ...... 4 5. Conflict/Security ...... 4 6. Minorities/Ethnic Groups ...... 5 Homosexuals...... 5 Ethnic Groups...... 6 7. Religion/Cults ...... 6 8. Political ...... 7 9. State Protection (For State Protection of Particular Groups see the relevant section) ...... 7 10. Government/ Civil Society/ Legal Systems ...... 7 11. Press/Media/Freedom of Expression ...... 8 12. Women/Children/Family ...... 8 Children ...... 8 Women ...... 9 13. Prisons/Detention/Torture/Slavery ...... 10 14. Crime/Corruption ...... 10 15. Education ...... 10

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16. Health ...... 11 17. Asylum Seekers/IDPs/Internal Flight ...... 12

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List of Documents

1. Nationality/Citizenship/Residency

Constitution Finder at the University of Richmond (undated) Malawi's Constitution: Final Draft http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Govern_Political/mlwi_const.html

Open Society Foundations (OSF) (January 2016) Citizenship Law in Africa: A Comparative Study http://www.refworld.org/docid/56a77ffe4.html

Republic of Malawi (1968) Malawi Citizenship (Prescribed Languages Regulations) http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b4f60.html

Republic of Malawi (1966) Malawi Citizenship Act http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b5b110.html

2. Maps

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (14 January 2015) Malawi: Floods Update http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Malawi_Floods_2015_01_ 14_OCHA%20ROSA.pdf

UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations Cartographic Section (January 2004) Malawi http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/malawi.pdf

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (25 September 2009) Map of Africa: Total refugee population by country of asylum, end-2008 http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4adebeeed.html

University of Texas at Austin (1985) Malawi http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/malawi_pol_1985.pdf

3. Local Information/Languages/Culture/Customs

BBC News (14 December 2016) Malawi Country Profile http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13864367

CIA (22 December 2016) The World Factbook – Malawi https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html

Concern Worldwide (24 July 2016) Hunger in Malawi: “The biggest crisis in a generation”

3 http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/hunger-malawi-biggest-crisis-generation

Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) (29 November 2016) Travel Advice – Malawi https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/malawi/

Ethnologue (undated) Languages of Malawi http://www.ethnologue.com/country/MW

Info Please (Undated) Malawi http://www.infoplease.com/country/malawi.html

United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) (19 October 2016) Sub Saharan Africa, Malawi https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malawi/print

United States Department of State (21 December 2016) Travel Warning Bureau of Consular Affairs http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/malawi.html

4. General Human Rights Reports

Amnesty International (24 February 2016) Amnesty International Report 2015/16 - Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/56d05b394.html

Freedom House (18 August 2016) Freedom in the World 2016 – Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/57bc4f31c.html

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (9 May 2016) Annual Report 2015 - Harare (regional) http://www.refworld.org/docid/57f60ba32.html

UN News Service (29 April 2016) In Malawi, people with albinism face 'total extinction'– UN rights expert http://www.refworld.org/docid/5724a29940c.html

United States Department of State (13 April 2016) 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/5716123f15.html

5. Conflict/Security

Alert Net (17 March 2014) Two killed in Malawi campaign violence – police http://www.trust.org/item/20140317070448-ghwkg/?source=hpbreaking

Nyasa Times (5 December 2016) Malawi Refers Lake Border Dispute With Tanzania to UN

4 http://allafrica.com/stories/201612050108.html

Reliefweb (18 March 2014) Malawi's president calls for probe into political violence http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/malawis-president-calls-probe-political- violence

6. Minorities/Ethnic Groups

Homosexuals

Erasing 76 Crimes (1 December 2016) Malawi debates its anti-LGBTI law, still on hold https://76crimes.com/2016/12/01/malawi-debates-its-anti-lgbti-law-still-on- hold/

Erasing 76 Crimes (16 January 2016) Stronger voices for LGBT rights in Malawi https://76crimes.com/2016/01/16/stronger-voices-for-lgbt-rights-in-malawi/

Erasing 76 Crimes (6 January 2016) Call for police probe of anti-gay hate speech in Malawi https://76crimes.com/2016/01/06/call-for-police-probe-of-anti-gay-hate- speech-in-malawi/

Erasing 76 Crimes (10 April 2015) Praise for Malawi’s new focus on HIV among LGBTI people http://76crimes.com/2015/04/10/praise-for-new-malawi-focus-on-hiv-among- lgbti-people/

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (May 2016) State Sponsored Homophobia: A World Survey of Laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition of same-sex love http://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_EN G_WEB_150516.pdf

Malawi 24 (22 December 2016) MHRC to consult Malawians on gays https://malawi24.com/2016/12/22/mhrc-consult-malawians-gays/

Pink News (18 March 2016) Catholic bishops in Malawi have attacked the government for placing a moratorium on ‘harmful’ homosexual laws http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/03/18/malawi-bishops-attack-government- over-homosexual-acts/

United Kingdom: Home Office (March 2016) Country Information and Guidance - Malawi: Sexual orientation and gender identity, Version 2.0 http://www.refworld.org/docid/56eaba574.html

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UN News Service (22 January 2016) Incitement to anti-gay killings in Malawi draws concern of UN human rights office http://www.refworld.org/docid/56a5d1e240b.html

Ethnic Groups

Earth Cultures (undated) People and Culture of Malawi http://www.earth-cultures.com/cultures/people-of-malawi

IRIN (11 May 2016) Magic and murder: albinism in Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/573443d74.html

Minority Rights Group International (undated) World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Malawi: Overview http://www.minorityrights.org/?lid=4758

Joshua Project (undated) Malawi http://joshuaproject.net/search.php

Other Minorities

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (18 June 2016) 349: Resolution on the Attacks on Persons with Albinism in Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/5811e6814.html

Amnesty International (19 July 2016) Malawi: Investigate brutal attack against woman with albinism http://www.refworld.org/docid/578e2c4d4.html

Amnesty International (7 June 2016) "We are not Animals to be Hunted or Sold" - Violence and Discrimination Against People with Albinism in Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/5757bed34.html

OHCHR - UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (29 April 2016) Malawi: People with albinism face total extinction – UN expert calls for urgent response http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/323540/449462_en.html

7. Religion/Cults

Refugee Documentation Centre (9 December 2013) Q17414 - Information on witchcraft including treatment of those who are perceived to be witches. Are children of perceived witches targeted? How do the police treat such cases? http://58.31.2.150/client/en_US/search/asset/95513

United States Department of State (10 August 2016) 2015 Report on International Religious Freedom – Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/57add8575f.html

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8. Political

Bertelsmann Foundation (2016) BTI 2016; Malawi Country Report http://www.bti- project.org/fileadmin/files/BTI/Downloads/Reports/2016/pdf/BTI_2016_Malawi .pdf

CIA (25 July 2016) Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/MI.html

European Commission (18 July 2014) Final Report Malawi 2014 http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1410773338_eueommalawi2014- finalreport.pdf

Rulers (Undated) Malawi http://www.rulers.org/rulm1.html#malawi

World Bank (8 November 2016) World Bank Provides Hope to Drought Stricken Malawi http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/world-bank-provides-hope-drought-stricken- malawi

World Food Programme (14 October 2016) Better Support for the Poorest in Malawi http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/better-support-poorest-malawi

9. State Protection (For State Protection of Particular Groups see the relevant section)

Voice of America (13 March 2015) Malawi: No Safe Haven for Albinos? http://www.voanews.com/content/malawi-no-safe-haven-for- albinos/2678624.html

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (10 March 2015) Zeid calls for action after surge in "stunningly vicious attacks" on people with albinism in East Africa http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=156 73&LangID=E

10. Government/ Civil Society/ Legal Systems

Directory of Development Organizations (2011) Directory of Development Organizations; Edition 2011; Volume 1.B; Africa; Malawi http://www.devdir.org/files/Malawi.PDF

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The International Centre for Not for Profit Law (22 May 2015) NGO Law Monitor: Malawi http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/malawi.html

UN Human Rights Council (January 2014) Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier de Schutter; Addendum; Mission to Malawi http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1391518937_a-hrc-25-57-add-1- eng.doc

United States Social Security Administration (September 2015) Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2015 https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2014-2015/africa/index.html

World Food Programme (30 November 2016) WFP Malawi Country Brief, November 2016 http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/wfp-malawi-country-brief-november-2016

11. Press/Media/Freedom of Expression

Freedom House (14 November 2016) Freedom on the Net 2016 – Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/58340083a.html

Freedom House (20 October 2015) Freedom of the Press 2015 – Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/562f6f649.html

12. Women/Children/Family

Children

BBC News (15 April 2015) Malawi's Peter Mutharika raises marriage age http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32325177#sa- ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

Child Rights Information Network (20 April 2016) Discrimination and Disenfranchisement: A Global Report on Status Offences (Third Edition) https://www.crin.org/sites/default/files/crin_status_offences_global_report_0.p df

Child Rights Information Network (23 October 2014) Innocence Lost – Child Marriage in a global context, with focus on Malawi https://www.kidsrights.nl/Portals/0/Peter%20R/Innocence%20Lost%20- %20Child%20Marriage%20in%20a%20global%20context,%20with%20a%20f ocus%20on%20Malawi.pdf

Human Rights Watch (3 November 2016) Good News for Child Protection in Malawi - Decision to Redefine Childhood Should Help Deter Child Marriage http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/331483/459330_en.html

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Human Rights Watch (17 April 2015) Malawi: New Marriage Law Can Change Lives http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/17/malawi-new-marriage-law-can-change- lives

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (May 2015) Malawi’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR): Recommendations for children http://www.unicef.org/malawi/media_16560.html

United Nations Office at Geneva (10 March 2015) High Commissioner Zeid Calls For Action After Surge In “Stunningly Vicious Attacks” On People With Albinism In East Africa http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/%28httpNewsByYear_en% 29/59DB6D06D4615EC9C1257E04003CB2C8?OpenDocument

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (8 June 2015) Safeguarding Malawi's young people http://www.unfpa.org/news/safeguarding-malawi%E2%80%99s-young-people

United States Department of Labor (30 September 2016) 2015 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor – Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/57f4e8820.html

Voice of America (19 February 2015) Malawi Parliament Criticized for Passing Marriage Bill http://www.voanews.com/content/malawi-parliament-criticized-for-passing- marriage-bill/2650067.html

Women

Human Rights Watch (11 October 2014) Dispatches: Promoting Gender Equality in Malawi http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/11/dispatches-promoting-gender-equality- malawi

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (23 January 2015) Malawi – 62nd Pre-sessional Working Group of the Committee (9-13 March 2015) http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1422532460_int-cedaw-ngo-mwi-19354- e.pdf

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (2015) Joint report of the NGOs Centre for Development of People, Lawyers Forum for Human Rights and others on discrimination of women http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1422533532_int-cedaw-ngo-mwi-19258- e.pdf

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (15 July 2014) Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of

9 the Convention; Seventh periodic report of States parties due in 2014; Malawi [3 July 2014] [CEDAW/C/MWI/7] http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1411481188_n1446745.pdf

United States Department of State (30 June 2016) 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report – Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/577f95dc15.html

13. Prisons/Detention/Torture/Slavery

Amnesty International (April 2016) Death sentences and executions in 2015 https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2016/04/death-sentences- executions-2015/

Amnesty International (undated) Abolitionist and Retentionist countries http://www.amnesty.org/en/death-penalty/abolitionist-and-retentionist- countries

14. Crime/Corruption

Business Anti-Corruption Portal (May 2016) Malawi Corruption Report http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/malawi

D+C Development and Cooperation (23 March 2015) Police Corruption has become the norm http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/corrupt-police-great-problem-malawi

Transparency International (2015) Malawi http://www.transparency.org/country/MWI

US Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) (25 May 2016) Malawi 2016 Crime & Safety Report https://www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=19755

Voice of America (23 April 2015) Malawi’s Former President Banda Denies Cashgate Allegations http://www.voanews.com/content/malawis-former-president-banda-denies- cashgate-/2731767.html

Voice of America (8 October 2014) Malawi Court Sentences First Official in Cashgate Scandal http://www.voanews.com/content/malawi-court-sentences-official-in-cashgate- scandal/2476521.html

15. Education

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Malawi Times (24 February 2016) Malawi government deploys 10,000 primary school teachers http://www.times.mw/malawi-government-deploys-10000-primary-school- teachers/

Ministry of Education (undated) Plans and Programmes for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology: 2009 – 2014 http://www.malawi.gov.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2 4:plans-and-programmes-for-the-ministry-of-education-science-and- technology-2009-2014&catid=13:education-science-a-technology&Itemid=80

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) (2015) Universal Periodic Review (22nd session), Contribution of UNESCO to Compilation of UN information (to Part I. A. and to Part III - F, J, K, and P): Malawi http://www.refworld.org/docid/553a28ff4.html

UNICEF (November 2016) Basic quality education https://www.unicef.org/malawi/development_15943.html

USAID (16 August 2016) Malawi - Education https://www.usaid.gov/malawi/education

USAID (7 September 2016) Education Program Overview https://www.usaid.gov/malawi/fact-sheets/education-program-overview

16. Health

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (undated) Health Information for Travellers http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/malawi

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (12 May 2016) Global Health – Malawi https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/malawi/

Ripple Africa (Undated) General Information About Healthcare in Malawi http://www.rippleafrica.org/healthcare-in-malawi-africa/healthcare-in-malawi- africa

UNAIDS (2015) Malawi AIDS Response Progress Report – 2015 http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/country/documents/MWI_narrative_re port_2015.pdf

UNAIDS (2015) HIV and AIDS Estimates http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/malawi

UNAIDS, UN Children’s Fund (1 February 2015) Malawi: Estimated number of adolescents living with HIV, 2014

11 http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/malawi-estimated-number-adolescents-living- hiv-2014

UNICEF (Undated) Malawi Health and Nutrition http://www.unicef.org/malawi/health_nutrition_3951.html

United Nations Populations Fund (December 2014) HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Programming: Innovative Approaches to Integrated Service Delivery http://www.unfpa.org/publications/hiv-and-sexual-and-reproductive-health- programming-innovative-approaches-integrated

United Nations Population Fund (2016) UNFPA Malawi Country Office Summary Report 2015 http://malawi.unfpa.org/resources/unfpa-malawi-country-office-summary- report-2015

USAID (4 November 2016) Global Health https://www.usaid.gov/malawi/global-health

World Health Organisation (January 2015) Malawi: WHO statistical profile http://www.who.int/gho/countries/mwi.pdf?ua=1

World Health Organisation (undated) Malawi Health Profile http://www.who.int/gho/countries/mwi.pdf

World Health Organisation (undated) Malawi http://www.who.int/countries/mwi/en/

17. Asylum Seekers/IDPs/Internal Flight

Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) (December 2016) 2016 Africa Report on Internal Displacement http://www.refworld.org/docid/584ec2d36.htm

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (22 December 2016) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2016 - Sub-Saharan Africa http://www.refworld.org/docid/585ba7144.html

UN News (16 January 2015) Major floods in Malawi, Mozambique force thousands to flee their homes – UN http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49820#.VZZ0MdROPK4

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (15 April 2016) UNHCR begins relocating Mozambican asylum-seekers in Malawi http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/322760/448557_en.html

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (15 March 2016) Malawi to reopen former camp, as Mozambique refugee numbers grow

12 http://www.refworld.org/docid/56e90d654.html

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