IBAHRI calls on Malawi’s president to address persecution of Constitutional Court judges
In an open letter to President Peter Mutharika of the Republic of Malawi, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls for action to be taken against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in relation to attacks on Constitutional Court judges after they annulled the May 2019 Presidential election, ruling that the integrity of the ballot had been compromised. Following the decision, reports state that the DPP has attempted to undermine the verdict of the five judges by openly alleging they had received bribes to favour the petitioners.
The letter, jointly signed by IBAHRI Co-Chairs The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG and Anne Ramberg Dr jur hc, states: ‘…Malawi has held firm to the principles of democracy and the rule of law enshrined in the amended constitution. It is essential that these principles should now be observed now and that the provisions of the Constitution for judicial review and peaceful settlement of differences according to law in independent courts should not be disturbed or interrupted. This is not only important for judges, lawyers and the political process. It is important for fundamental human rights of citizens and for the economic welfare of the people of Malawi.’
The persecution of judges is in direct contravention to Malawi’s obligations under international human rights law. Malawi is a party to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, Article 26 of which enshrines the state’s ‘duty to guarantee the independence of the Courts…entrusted with the promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the present Charter’. Further, the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary uphold states’ responsibilities to secure and promote the independence of the judiciary.
The IBAHRI Co-Chairs go on to state that the current situation in Malawi ‘…challenges the fundamental rights of lawyers to protect them from bullying, harassment and intimidation, and also the principle of an independent judiciary to which Malawi has shown previous commitment. We expect the DPP to observe and respect the rule of law, and challenge this decision through their pending appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeal, rather than through the intimidation of the judges of their Constitutional Court.’
The penultimate paragraph of the letter to President Mutharika from the IBAHRI ‘urges everyone in Malawi…to abide by due process of law and constitutional government according to law’, stating, ‘this requires respect for the judiciary and obedience to the rule of law. We urge the President of Malawi to respect the judiciary and the courts and allow the legal process to take its course without hindrance and without delay.’
The Constitutional Court judges have ordered a rerun of the poll to take place within 150 days of the 3 February 2020 ruling.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
-
Click here to view further items related to the IBAHRI’s work in Malawi:
www.ibanet.org/Human_Rights_Institute/Work_by_regions/Africa/Malawi -
The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Through its global membership of individual lawyers, law firms, bar associations and law societies it influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.
The IBA’s administrative office is in London, United Kingdom. Regional offices are located in: São Paulo, Brazil; Seoul, South Korea; and Washington DC, United States, while the International Bar Association’s International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law Programme (ICC & ICL) is managed from an office in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), an autonomous and financially independent entity, works to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
For further information please contact:
Romana St. Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
International Bar Association
4th Floor, 10 St Bride Street,
London EC4A 4AD
Mobile: +44 (0)7940 731 915
Direct Line: +44 (0)20 7842 0094
Main Office: +44 (0)20 7842 0090
Fax: +44 (0)20 7842 0091
Email: romana.daniel@int-bar.org
Website: www.ibanet.org
IBA website page link for this news release:
Short link: tinyurl.com/yx2vjls8