28 NOVEMBER 2020
Nyasa Times (Leeds)
By Phillip Pasula
Youths from Mzuzu and Nkhata-Bay have spoken in support of the proposed Termination of Pregnancy Bill, saying if passed it will help in safeguarding their sexual reproductive health rights.
The youths sounded their concerns at Ilala Crest Lodge on Thursday where they had a meeting as part of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence for the year 2020 which begins from 25th November to 10th December.
28 SEPTEMBER 2020, Nyasa Times (Leeds)
By Green Muheya
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Mathews Ngwale has challenged the youth in the country to lobby their members of Parliament to support the Termination of Pregnancy Bill also known as the Abortion Bill when it is tabled in Parliament.
Ngwale, who is expected to move the motion on the bill as a private member motion, said Malawi has lost a lot of young girls and women who could have lived if the laws had not been prohibitive.
3 July 2020
Centre for Solutions Journalism (Blantyre)
By Glory Msowoya, Mana
Centre for Solutions of Journalism (CSJ) has urged the new administration of the State President Dr Lazarus Chakwera to prioritise the advancement of human rights for all the citizens.
"We urge the new administration to promote and defend human rights for all the citizens without discrimination based on including region, tribe, religion, gender, sex or sexual orientation," said CSJ executive director Brian Ligomeka.
3 July 2020
Malawi News Agency (Lilongwe)
By Glory Msowoya
Blantyre — Centre for Solutions of Journalism (CSJ) has urged the Tonse Alliance led government to look into abortion law reforms and to enact the proposed bill which should deal with unsafe abortion among girls and women.
The CSJ made the call on Wednesday in Blantyre during a day-long training on sexual and reproductive health for traditional and religious leaders from Blantyre and Chiradzulu as the organization said human rights should be the government's priority for its citizens without discrimination.
Addressing stigma while moving a national campaign: Spotlight on Malawi
Posted June 4, 2019
by inroads Comms, with Andrew Mdala, Boniface Mbewe, Francis Makiya and Mackson Harawa
In this Spotlight, Mackson Harawa, Francis Makiya, Boniface Mbewe and Andrew Mdala, four inroads members, tell us more about the barriers or stigma that still need to be addressed in addition to fighting for legal reform in Malawi.
Although some liberal religious clerics and communities have given a nod to the need for a reform of the abortion law in Malawi, what are the many other socio-cultural obstacles that are yet to be combatted?
Boniface Mbewe (Chipembere Community Development Organization– CCDO): In Malawi there are still many socio-cultural obstacles hindering access to safe abortion services in health facilities. These obstacles include: condemnation emanating from cultural and religious beliefs as the person undergoing the abortion is perceived as sinner. For instance, some believe that abortion is an act carried out by non-believers, sex workers and promiscuous girls in the society; attitude, stigma and discrimination among health service providers towards the people seeking abortion or post-abortion care services also prevent women from seeking services; the legal implications associated with current laws around safe abortion do not necessitate the availability and accessibility of the services to those in need of them. The cost of abortion services and distance to get them (pre-and post-abortion services) are some of the challenge women are facing in Malawi.
Malawi: NGOs Build Capacity of Malawian Lawyers to Undertake Abortion Litigation
5 April 2019
By CSJ Reporter
Litigation is one strategy that can result in clarification of current vague abortion laws, which are perpetrating violation of women rights, a reproductive health champion has said.
Nyale Institute of Reproductive Rights executive director Godfrey Kangaude said this in eastern Malawi's resort town of Mangochi on March 29 when he opened a two-day training on public interest litigation for lawyers.
Health Experts In Malawi Still Pushing For Legalisation Of Safe Abortion
Sep 19, 2017
By Jayne KAONGA
Following reports that unsafe abortions are still being carried out and leading to the death of mothers and young girls in Malawi, health experts are appealing to the relevant authorities for the legalisation of safe abortion.
A 2009 research conducted by the Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (COPUA) found that at the time 67,000 women had unsafe abortions in Malawi.
At the time this cost the government US$1 million to treat complications.
Continued at source: http://www.capitalradiomalawi.com/index.php/blog/local-news/capital-news/item/8507-health-experts-in-malawi-still-pushing-for-legalisation-of-safe-abortion
Govt escalates draft abortion Bill
James Chavula
May 30, 2017
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has finally published the findings of the Special Law Commission on the Review of Abortion Laws.
Not only does it officially bring the proposed amendments of abortion laws to the attention of Cabinet and Parliament, it also escalates the July 2015 report which contains the draft Termination of Pregnancy Bill whose existence government denied when some Christians marched against liberalisation of colonial abortion laws last December.
According to assistant chief law reform officer Edda Chavula, the step puts the law reform firmly on the path to be deliberated by Cabinet.
Continued at source: Malawi Nation: http://mwnation.com/govt-escalates-draft-abortion-bill/
Malawi govt releases Abortion Bill to the public
May 27, 2017
Alfred Chauwa
Malawi Government has finally released and gazetted the long awaited Termination of Pregnancy Bill to the general public ending speculation on the whereabouts of the bill.
Discussing abortion law reforms
The report and the Bill has this week been distributed to all 193 members of parliament, Speaker of parliament, libraries, universities, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and the judiciary.
The Bill is expected to be tabled in this session of parliament.
Continued at source: Nyasa Times: https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-govt-releases-abortion-bill-public/
Mzimba reports 145 cases of unsafe abortion in three months
April 10, 2017
Kestina Frank
Cases of unsafe abortion in Mzimba South are on the increase as statistics from December 2016 to February 2017 indicates that over 145 women conducted back street abortions in the district.
Top Bill Champion coordinator for the northern chapter, Dan Kwacha disclosed this in an interview , saying unsafe abortion in the district has worsened with 145 women seeking for post care treatment at the hospital since December last year.
Continued at source: Nyasa Times: http://www.nyasatimes.com/mzimba-reports-145-cases-unsafe-abortion-three-months/
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