Human Rights Council 50th Session of the Universal Periodic Review – Malawi

Mr President,

New Zealand warmly welcomes the delegation from Malawi.

We congratulate Malawi on the positive steps taken to enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, including the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2024 and new National Disability Policy in 2025.

New Zealand recommends that the Government of Malawi:

1. Take steps to address maternal mortality rates and obstetric violence against women and girls in Malawi, including to adopt legislation on the termination of pregnancy, recommended the Law Commission's 2016 review of Abortion Laws.
2. Formally decriminalise consensual same-sex relations between adults, including to review and clarify Penal Code sections 153, 154 and 156 to prevent prosecutions and reprisals of persons or organisations on this basis.
3. Strengthen measures to ensure that women and girls have continued access to education following a marriage or pregnancy.

We thank the delegation for their participation today and wish them a successful review.

Thank you Mr President.

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