Malawi: Parliament urged to revamp outdated Penal Code

Peter Dimba, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee in Parliament, has called for a thorough revision of the Penal Code, citing its numerous inconsistencies with the current Constitution. Dimba highlighted that several offenses in the Penal Code date back to colonial rule and were intended to restrict the local population. “Laws such as the vagrancy statutes were designed to suppress the rights of local natives. A holistic review is essential,” he insisted.

Read full article: Parliament urged to revamp outdated Penal Code

Date:
10 June, 2024

Type of Update:
In the News
Updates from our Partners

Themes:
Courts Systems
Human Rights
Petty Offences
#PoorNotGuilty
Use of Public Spaces

Countries:
Malawi

Regions:
Africa

Campaign Partners:
Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance
Southern Africa Litigation Centre

The Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status is a coalition of organisations from across the world that advocate for the repeal of laws that target people based on poverty, status or for their activism.

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