News
YAS, other CSOs rue gaps
in implementation of
access to information
law in Malawi
By staff reporter
A
consortium
of
Youth
and
Society
(YAS),
Oxfam
and
Development
Communication
Trust
(DCT)
has
expressed
concern
over
"some
significant
gaps"
in
the
implementation
of
the
Access
to
Information
(ATI)
Act
and
operating
environment
for
the
effective
realization
of
the
right
to
information.
The
consortium
is
mostly
concerned
with
non-compliance
in
designating
information
officers
and
lack
of
pro-active
disclosure
of
information
by
some
public
institutions
and
underfunding
of
the
Malawi
Human
Rights
Commission
(MHRC),
which
is
responsible
for
oversight implementation of the act.
The
consortium
has
made
the
sentiments
in
a
communique
on
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
on
access
to
Information
held
on
Wednesday, 29 September, 2021 in Salima.
It
has
since
asked
the
Government
of
Malawi
to
harmonise
all
laws
related
to
access
to
information
and
repeal
laws
that
limit
access
to
information and criminalise freedom of expression.
"Expedite
designation
of
Information
Officers
(IOs)
in
all
public
institutions
in
compliance
to
section
12
of
the
ATI
Act,
at
least
by
end
of
2021.
Allocate
adequate
funding
to
MHRC
to
enable
it
carry
out
its
oversight
role
and
increase
public
awareness
on
the
ATI
Act,"
reads
in
part the communique, which was issued on 11 October, 2021.
The
communique
goes
on
to
state
that
stakeholders
at
the
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
also
expressed
concern
over
high
costs of internet, low penetration of technology and growing crackdown on online speech.
It
further
says
delegates
also
called
for
greater
accountability
in
the
Management
of
the
Universal
Service
Fund
(USF),
which
was
established for promoting universal access to ICT services in rural and underserved areas in the country.
Apparently, USF is managed by the Malawi Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
"The
Conference
also
noted
with
concern
the
Minister
of
Information’s
announcement
that
the
government’s
Connect
a
Constituency
Telecentre
project
through
MACRA,
was
abandoned.
The
Government
has
since
opted
to
prioritize
the
Connect
a
School
project.
Government
is
encouraged
to
be
more
transparent
on
its
decision
and
properly
account
for
the
abandoned
project,"
states
the
communique.
The
consortium
of
YAS,
Oxfam
and
DCT
then
urges
the
government
to
implement
policy
interventions
to
make
internet
and
mobile
services
more
affordable
including
the
review
of
taxes
on
internet
and
mobile
services
and
breaking
the
dual-monopoly
of
the
telecommunication sector by making it more competitive.
It
adds
that
government
should
hasten
efforts
to
provide
equal
access
to
technology
and
communications
to
all
citizens,
including
disadvantaged
and
marginalised
groups
of
the
population
by
removing
barriers
to
access
and
improving
affordability,
as
well
as
expanding infrastructure.
"The
government
should
also
provide
a
report
on
the
status
of
the
Universal
Service
Fund
(USF)
by
end
of
2021
and
ensure
greater
accountability
of
the
USF.
Provide
a
detailed
report
on
the
status
of
the
Connect
a
Constituency
Telecentre
program
and
government’s
justification of its decision to abandon this program as announced by the Minister of Information.
"In
compliance
with
international
standards
and
the
right
to
freedom
of
expression
guaranteed
under
section
35
of
the
Constitution
and
Article
19
of
the
ICCPR,
guarantee
the
freedom
of
expression
and
opinion
online
as
well
as
offline
for
media
and
individuals,"
further
reads
the communique.
However,
delegates
to
the
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
applauded
the
Government
of
Malawi
for
operationalization
of
the
ATI Act in September, 2020, saying it is a significant step in actualizing the right of access to information.
"Delegates
also
noted
some
steps
taken
by
various
state
agencies
including
recruitment
or
designation
of
information
officers
in
public
institutions,
development
of
ATI
Act
regulations,
establishment
of
the
ATI
Act
Unit
housed
at
MHRC
and
training
of
heads
of
institutions,
CSOs, media and traditional leaders in the new law.
"Delegates
also
took
notice
of
Government’s
plans
to
introduce
a
harmonised
information
system
to
safeguard
public
information
and
enhance transparency and accountability in relation to the Access to Information (ATI) Act," says the communique.
According
to
the
communique,
the
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
was
held
after
the
International
Day
for
Universal
Access
to
Information
(IDUAI)
on
28
September,
which
was
set
by
the
74th
UN
General
Assembly
reaffirming
the
fundamental
significance
of
access
to
information
(ATI)
as
an
individual
human
right,
as
a
cornerstone
of
democracy
and
as
a
means
of
ensuring
respect,
protection
and
effective fulfillment of other human rights.
According
to
YAS
Executive
Director,
Charles
Kajoloweka,
the
multi-stakeholder
Conference
was
held
in
recognition
of
the
important
role
of
civil
society,
the
Government
of
Malawi
and
various
development
actors
in
the
realization
of
the
right
to
information
by
all
citizens
as
guaranteed under section 37 of the Republican Constitution and international law.
"The
Conference
provided
a
platform
for
various
stakeholders
to
reflect
on
the
implementation
of
the
ATI
Act
and
interrogate
the
digital
rights environment in the country," he added.
The
Conference,
which
was
graced
by
Minister
of
Information
Gospel
Kazako,
was
commemorated
under
this
year's
global
theme
"The
Right to Know: Building Back Better with Access to Information".
In
Malawi,
the
commemoration
coincides
with
one
year
anniversary
since
the
operationalisation
of
the
Access
to
Information
Act
on
30
September 2020.
OTHER News
Abolish death penalty- YAS urges Malawi
government
By staff reporter
Human
rights
watchdog,
Youth
and
Society
(YAS),
has
urged
the
Government
of
Malawi
to
abolish
the
death
penalty
through
amending
section
16
of
the
Constitution
and
repealing
all
laws
giving
effect
to
the
death
penalty
in
line
with
the
Second
Optional
Protocol
to
the
International
Covenant
on
Civil
and
Political
Rights.under The Democracy in Young Hands Project.
READ MORE
YAS DRILLS KARONGA DUTY BEARERS IN
POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY, CITIZEN
ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT INSTRUMENTS
Author:- Alfred Zgambo
As
part
of
continued
efforts
to
strengthen
duty
bearers
responsiveness,
YAS
on
the
19th
march
2021
trained
Karonga
duty
bearers
and
bureaucrats in Political Accountability, Citizen Engagement, and Youth Development Instruments.
The
training
intended
to
equip
the
targeted
Participants
with
knowledge
and
skills
in
Political
Accountability,
Citizen
Engagement
and
Youth Development Instruments under The Democracy in Young Hands Project.
Read More
Gospel Kazako: Minister of Information
News
YAS, other CSOs rue gaps in
implementation of access to
information law in Malawi
By staff reporter
A
consortium
of
Youth
and
Society
(YAS),
Oxfam
and
Development
Communication
Trust
(DCT)
has
expressed
concern
over
"some
significant
gaps"
in
the
implementation
of
the
Access
to
Information
(ATI)
Act
and
operating
environment
for
the
effective
realization
of the right to information.
The
consortium
is
mostly
concerned
with
non-
compliance
in
designating
information
officers
and
lack
of
pro-active
disclosure
of
information
by
some
public
institutions
and
underfunding
of
the
Malawi
Human
Rights
Commission
(MHRC),
which
is
responsible
for
oversight implementation of the act.
The
consortium
has
made
the
sentiments
in
a
communique
on
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
on
access
to
Information
held
on
Wednesday,
29
September, 2021 in Salima.
It
has
since
asked
the
Government
of
Malawi
to
harmonise
all
laws
related
to
access
to
information
and
repeal
laws
that
limit
access
to
information
and
criminalise freedom of expression.
"Expedite
designation
of
Information
Officers
(IOs)
in
all
public
institutions
in
compliance
to
section
12
of
the
ATI
Act,
at
least
by
end
of
2021.
Allocate
adequate
funding
to
MHRC
to
enable
it
carry
out
its
oversight
role
and
increase
public
awareness
on
the
ATI
Act,"
reads
in
part
the communique, which was issued on 11 October, 2021.
The
communique
goes
on
to
state
that
stakeholders
at
the
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
also
expressed
concern
over
high
costs
of
internet,
low
penetration
of
technology
and
growing
crackdown
on
online speech.
It
further
says
delegates
also
called
for
greater
accountability
in
the
Management
of
the
Universal
Service
Fund
(USF),
which
was
established
for
promoting
universal
access
to
ICT
services
in
rural
and
underserved
areas in the country.
Apparently,
USF
is
managed
by
the
Malawi
Regulatory
Authority (MACRA).
"The
Conference
also
noted
with
concern
the
Minister
of
Information’s
announcement
that
the
government’s
Connect
a
Constituency
Telecentre
project
through
MACRA,
was
abandoned.
The
Government
has
since
opted
to
prioritize
the
Connect
a
School
project.
Government
is
encouraged
to
be
more
transparent
on
its
decision
and
properly
account
for
the
abandoned
project," states the communique.
The
consortium
of
YAS,
Oxfam
and
DCT
then
urges
the
government
to
implement
policy
interventions
to
make
internet
and
mobile
services
more
affordable
including
the
review
of
taxes
on
internet
and
mobile
services
and
breaking
the
dual-monopoly
of
the
telecommunication
sector by making it more competitive.
It
adds
that
government
should
hasten
efforts
to
provide
equal
access
to
technology
and
communications
to
all
citizens,
including
disadvantaged
and
marginalised
groups
of
the
population
by
removing
barriers
to
access
and
improving
affordability,
as
well
as
expanding
infrastructure.
"The
government
should
also
provide
a
report
on
the
status
of
the
Universal
Service
Fund
(USF)
by
end
of
2021
and
ensure
greater
accountability
of
the
USF.
Provide
a
detailed
report
on
the
status
of
the
Connect
a
Constituency
Telecentre
program
and
government’s
justification
of
its
decision
to
abandon
this
program
as
announced by the Minister of Information.
"In
compliance
with
international
standards
and
the
right
to
freedom
of
expression
guaranteed
under
section
35
of
the
Constitution
and
Article
19
of
the
ICCPR,
guarantee
the
freedom
of
expression
and
opinion
online
as
well
as
offline
for
media
and
individuals,"
further
reads
the
communique.
However,
delegates
to
the
high
level
multi-stakeholder
conference
applauded
the
Government
of
Malawi
for
operationalization
of
the
ATI
Act
in
September,
2020,
saying
it
is
a
significant
step
in
actualizing
the
right
of
access to information.
"Delegates
also
noted
some
steps
taken
by
various
state
agencies
including
recruitment
or
designation
of
information
officers
in
public
institutions,
development
of
ATI
Act
regulations,
establishment
of
the
ATI
Act
Unit
housed
at
MHRC
and
training
of
heads
of
institutions,
CSOs, media and traditional leaders in the new law.
"Delegates
also
took
notice
of
Government’s
plans
to
introduce
a
harmonised
information
system
to
safeguard
public
information
and
enhance
transparency
and
accountability
in
relation
to
the
Access
to
Information
(ATI) Act," says the communique.
According
to
the
communique,
the
high
level
multi-
stakeholder
conference
was
held
after
the
International
Day
for
Universal
Access
to
Information
(IDUAI)
on
28
September,
which
was
set
by
the
74th
UN
General
Assembly
reaffirming
the
fundamental
significance
of
access
to
information
(ATI)
as
an
individual
human
right,
as
a
cornerstone
of
democracy
and
as
a
means
of
ensuring
respect,
protection
and
effective
fulfillment
of
other human rights.
According
to
YAS
Executive
Director,
Charles
Kajoloweka,
the
multi-stakeholder
Conference
was
held
in
recognition
of
the
important
role
of
civil
society,
the
Government
of
Malawi
and
various
development
actors
in
the
realization
of
the
right
to
information
by
all
citizens
as
guaranteed
under
section
37
of
the
Republican
Constitution and international law.
"The
Conference
provided
a
platform
for
various
stakeholders
to
reflect
on
the
implementation
of
the
ATI
Act
and
interrogate
the
digital
rights
environment
in
the
country," he added.
The
Conference,
which
was
graced
by
Minister
of
Information
Gospel
Kazako,
was
commemorated
under
this
year's
global
theme
"The
Right
to
Know:
Building
Back
Better with Access to Information".
In
Malawi,
the
commemoration
coincides
with
one
year
anniversary
since
the
operationalisation
of
the
Access
to
Information Act on 30 September 2020.
OTHER News
Abolish death penalty- YAS
urges Malawi government
By staff reporter
Human
rights
watchdog,
Youth
and
Society
(YAS),
has
urged
the
Government
of
Malawi
to
abolish
the
death
penalty
through
amending
section
16
of
the
Constitution
and
repealing
all
laws
giving
effect
to
the
death
penalty
in
line
with
the
Second
Optional
Protocol
to
the
International
Covenant
on
Civil
and
Political
Rights.
READ MORE
YAS DRILLS KARONGA DUTY
BEARERS IN POLITICAL
ACCOUNTABILITY, CITIZEN
ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT INSTRUMENTS
Author:- Alfred Zgambo
As
part
of
continued
efforts
to
strengthen
duty
bearers
responsiveness,
YAS
on
the
19th
march
2021
trained
Karonga
duty
bearers
and
bureaucrats
in
Political
Accountability,
Citizen
Engagement,
and
Youth
Development Instruments.
The
training
intended
to
equip
the
targeted
Participants
with
knowledge
and
skills
in
Political
Accountability,
Citizen
Engagement
and
Youth
Development
Instruments
under
The
Democracy
in
Young
Hands
Project.
READ MORE
Gospel Kazako: Minister of Information
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