A/HRC/30/5
14.
The judiciary, in conjunction with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, was
installing a case-management system to increase efficiency in the handling of criminal-case
files, thereby reducing the backlog of cases.
15.
To ease the implementation of the Child Care, Protection and Justice Act of 2010,
subsidiary legislation was being developed, as well as a cost implementation plan to
facilitate resource mobilization and the actual implementation of the Act. The Act had been
translated into local languages. A strategic plan had been developed for rehabilitating
children living and working on the streets and reintegrating them into their communities
and families.
16.
A study on violence against children and young women conducted in 2014 had
revealed that boys and girls were abused in homes and in schools. A national response plan
had been launched.
17.
In 2010, a case-management approach was launched. This approach had improved
children’s access to multiple services through better referrals and follow-up. Various
programmes and policies for children had led to developments such as the essential package
for early childhood development, the guidelines for caregivers in identifying and supporting
children with special needs, the comprehensive training manual for early childhood
development, which included issues of child and women’s rights, and minimum standards
for quality improvement in the delivery of services to orphans and other vulnerable
children. The Government was developing guidelines for caregivers for the operation of
“children corners” and one-stop centres in central and district hospitals, providing holistic
services for victims of abuse.
18.
The Government had undertaken initiatives to prevent child labour, which included
ensuring family income security, identification of children below the minimum age and in
hazardous work, rehabilitation of children to prevent them from going back to work,
protection through risk management, awareness-raising campaigns, child labour inspections
to identify the working children, advocacy for change of attitude on child labour,
prosecutions of those responsible for child labour, commemoration of child labour open
days, and setting up community child labour committees. The curriculum for primary
education had a life-skills component that empowered children to protect themselves
against violations of their rights.
19.
To promote the rights of women and girls, the Deceased Estates (Wills, Inheritance
and Protection) Act 2011, Gender Equality Act 2013, the Marriage, Divorce and Family
Relations Act 2015 and the Trafficking in Persons Act 2015 had been enacted, and had
been simplified and translated into two local languages.
20.
The delegation provided detailed information on the second Malawi growth and
development strategy, a medium-term plan for 2011–2016, with the objective of creating
wealth and reducing poverty through sustainable economic growth and infrastructure
development.
21.
In December 2011, the national HIV and AIDS strategic plan, 2011–2016, was
adopted. The Plan aimed at reducing new infections by 20 per cent, child infections by 30
per cent, child AIDS-related deaths by 50 per cent, adult infections by 15 per cent and adult
AIDS-related deaths by 8 per cent.
22.
The Government was committed to offering comprehensive sexual and reproductive
health and rights services in tandem with international, regional and national policies. The
delegation stated that there had been a decline of more than 50 per cent in child mortality.
5
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents