Malawi: Malawi Rights Activists Petition Police over Sexual Harassment

Jan 10, 2020 | Lameck Masina, Voice of America
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Human rights activists have given the Malawi Police Service five days to arrest police officers implicated in the sexual assault of 17 women and girls during post-election protests on the outskirts of the capital on Oct. 8.

The activists gave the ultimatum Thursday, during a protest march to police headquarters in Lilongwe where they questioned the police inspector. Police say they are investigating the allegations. 

Human Rights Defenders Coalition organized the demonstration, which attracted thousands of protesters, following the expiration of another five-day ultimatum that rights groups gave police in December to arrest the suspects.

Barbra Banda, chairperson of the NGO Gender Coordination Network, presented the petition to police.

"There are demands that we have made in the petition — that the perpetrators should be immediately arrested and that the course of justice should take its place," Banda said.  

The NGO Gender Coordination Network says it has recorded evidence from several victims, including three girls who said police raped them in their homes.