Criminal Justice

Challenging the use of the criminal justice system in a manner that targets poor and marginalised persons, wide-scale impunity for abusive policing practices, over-criminalisation and overcrowding in prisosns

Ongoing Cases

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Criminal Justice

Malawi: Protecting the rights of refugees

On 29 May 2023, a judicial review application was filed on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi, challenging the detention of refugees and asylum seekers including children. The…
Criminal Justice

Malawi: Lilongwe informal traders challenge eviction and confiscation of goods

On 5 June 2023, the High Court of Malawi granted leave for judicial review to challenge the Lilongwe by-laws evicting informal traders from plying their trade on the streets and…
Criminal Justice

Mozambique: Challenging privileged conditions in prison for the rich

On 24 May 2023, 2000 Mozambican citizens, under the leadership of lawyer and human rights activist, Maria Alice Mabota, filed a petition before the Constitutional Council against section 8(2) of…
Criminal Justice

Kenya: Challenge to offence of attempted suicide

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre is supporting a constitutional petition in Kenya, for   Coalition Action for Preventive Mental Health in Kenya (CAMPHK) as an interested party challenging section 226 of…

Completed Cases

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Malawi: Challenging eviction of Blantyre informal traders

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The Blantyre informal traders are challenging forced eviction from the marketplace by the city council.

Malawi: Man arrested and convicted for attempting to commit suicide

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Background Suicide continues to be a global health concern, affecting all continents. During the lockdown period to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic between April and September 2020, Malawi…

Malawi: High Court of Malawi reviews harsh sentences imposed on possession of Indian hemp

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Background On 15 June 2022, a 17-year-old boy was allegedly found in possession of 78 plastic bags (weighing about 134 kilograms) of Indian hemp at his home. He was subsequently…
Malawi flag is depicted on a sports cloth fabric with many folds. Sport team waving banner

Malawi: Ending impunity of police officers for rape

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Background Section 153 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and Section 4 of the Malawi Police Services Act provide that the Malawi Police Services’ mandate is to provide…

Articles

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Articles

Regulate clemency to protect sexual abuse survivors

IOL 1 June 2023 By Tambudzai Gonese-Manjonjo The recent presidential clemency/amnesty that saw scores of serving prisoners being released from Zimbabwe’s prisons has raised many topical issues. Zimbabwe’s prisons are…
Articles

Protect Sex Workers’ Rights

The Nation By Luntha Chimbwete 27 March 2023 It is commonly known that all over the world – including Malawi, women are involved in the sex work industry for a…
Articles

Madagascar: Prisoners are the invisible victims of the environmental crisis

In Madagascar, climate change is a growing threat to the country’s prison population. Recent weather events have worsened the already poor conditions of the country’s prisons, and the need for…
Articles

Ending impunity for police officers who commit sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Malawi

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV),  inflicts harm on women and girls and is a severe violation of bodily integrity and autonomy, especially when perpetrated by persons in positions of authority,…

Resources

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Civic Rights

SALC submission on Zimbabwe’s 3rd universal periodic review

Zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic crisis, which has only been exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown restrictions have led to a decrease in manufacturing,…
Civic Rights

2019-2021 Biennial report

SALC's biennial report captures activities for March 2019 to February 2021. Read the report here.
Criminal Justice Criminal Law Reform

Joint Stakeholder Submission: Universal Periodic Review of Tanzania

In March 2021, an anonymous human rights defender from Tanzania, SALC and SRI made a joint stakeholders submission for the Tanzania UPR 39th session. Read the submission here.
Criminal Justice

Zambia: Submission on the review of the penal code and criminal procedure code

SALC made submission on the review of the Zambian penal code and criminal procedure code. Read the submission here.