SALC & CHREAA: Although the Constitution of Malawi provides for the protection of all children including migrant children, the continuous detention of these migrant minors has become a cause of concern which requires attention from authorities and policy makers.

Detaining migrant children is not only illegal and unconstitutional, but it is against the tenor and spirit of the International Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC), to which Malawi is a state party.

In 2023, Africa News reported that over 100 children were arrested when more than 400 refugees and asylum seekers were rounded up in Lilongwe during the encampment policy blitz.

Migrant children continue to face detention and they are treated as criminals despite the fact that there are no legal provisions in the Malawi statute book for a child to be detained in prison for immigration purposes.

CHREAA Executive Director Victor Mhango said the continuous trend of detaining immigrant children is a violation of the law which requires urgent intervention.

Read full article: Migrant children should be protected from detention