As Malawi joins the rest of the world in commemorating the world elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the Malawi Network of older persons (MANEPO) and the Malawi Human rights Commissions (MHRC) expressed deep concern over the continued violations of rights of older persons across the country.
In separate statements, the two organisations have said, the persistence of abuse of older persons such as discrimination, abandonment, deprivation of property, social exclusion, persistent accusations of witchcraft targeting older persons among others, constitutes to serious violation of rights as guaranteed under the constitution of the republic of Malawi, the older persons ACT of 2024, the African charter on human and people’s rights, the protocol to the African charter on the rights of older persona in Africa, and other applicable international human rights standards.
According to a statement signed by the executive director of MANEPO Andrew Kavala, this year’s theme; ‘Beyond awareness; making elder abuse prevention work’, underscores a fundamental human rights principle that every person is entitled to live and age with dignity, security, equality and respect.
Kavala said the abuses against older persons coupled with low levels of accountability, threatens to normalize impunity and undermines Malawi’s constitutional and international obligations to protect its older population.
He reaffirmed MANEPO’s commitment to building a Malawi where every older person can enjoy their later years on safety, dignity and full enjoyment of their human rights.
On its part, the Malawi Human rights commission MHRC, in a statement signed by its Chairperson Chikondi Chijozi, urged the public to renew their commitment to protecting the rights of older person. MHRC expressed dismay to note that older persons in Malawi, continue to face numerous challenges, despite their contributions to their families and national life.
MHRC also expressed deep concern over the escalation of human rights abuses targeting older person including physical violence, psychological abuse, economic exploitation and killings associated with witchcraft accusations among others.
According to the statement, data compiled by MANEPO and Human rights watch, indicates that between 2020 and 2021, 68 percent rise of attacks and abuse were reported and over 300 older persons were killed on witchcraft accusation since 2015.
The Human rights organisation said there has also been increases in the killings of older persons year-in year out, as 13 deaths of older persons were recorded in 2021, 15 in 2022 and 25 in 2023.
It further indicated that, 123 cases of abuses were recorded in which 18 killings were registered by September 2024 and of the 18 killings, 6 were recorded in January alone.
It added that, first four months of 2026, 11 older persons have been killed on track to exceed the 22 deaths recorded across all of 2025.
MRHC however said as of march 2023, none of the witchcraft related killings recorded over the two preceding years were tried and concluded in court, exposing a profound crisis of impunity
MANEPO and MHRC therefore called upon government including the police, the ministry of gender, children, disability and social welfare and all stakeholders involved, to fully operationalize and adequately resource the older persons Act, strengthen social protection measures and ensure that perpetrators of violence and abuse against older persons are facing the law.
They also urged local leaders, faith leaders, communities and families to actively challenge harmful beliefs and practices that expose older persons to violence and exclusion.
Records indicate that older persons aged 60 and above, constitute over 5 percent of Malawi’s population.
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