Malawi

===Human rights===
{{See also|Human rights in Malawi}}
{{As of|2017}}, international observers noted issues in several human rights areas. Excessive force was seen to be used by police forces, security forces were able to act with impunity, mob violence was occasionally seen, and prison conditions continued to be harsh and sometimes life-threatening. However, the government was seen to make some effort to prosecute security forces who used excessive force. Other legal issues included limits on [[Freedom of speech|free speech]] and [[freedom of the press]], lengthy pretrial detentions, and [[arbitrary arrest]]s and detentions. Societal issues found included [[violence against women]], [[human trafficking]], and [[child labour]]. Corruption within the government is seen as a major issue, despite the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) attempts to reduce it. The ACB appears to be successful at finding and prosecuting low level corruption, but higher level officials appear to be able to act with impunity. Corruption within security forces is also an issue.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154356.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110414011935/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154356.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= 14 April 2011|title=2010 Human Rights Report: Malawi|date=8 April 2011|access-date=21 July 2011|publisher=US Department of State}}</ref> Malawi had one of the highest rates of [[child marriage]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-03-14|title=WHO &#124; Child marriages: 39,000 every day|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/child_marriage_20130307/en/|access-date=2023-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314073138/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2013/child_marriage_20130307/en/ |archive-date=14 March 2013 }}</ref> In 2015 Malawi raised the legal age for marriage from 15 to 18.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Batha|first1=Emma|title=Malawi bans child marriage, lifts minimum age to 18|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-malawi-childmarriage-law-idUKKBN0LK1Y920150216|access-date=19 June 2015|work=Reuters|date=16 February 2015}}</ref> Other issues that have been raised are lack of adequate legal protection of women from sexual abuse and harassment, very high [[maternal mortality]] rate, and abuse related to accusations of [[witchcraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/ngos/WLSAMalawi45_session.pdf |title=WOMEN AND LAW IN SOUTHERN AFRICA RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST (WLSA MALAWI) |website=Ohchr.org |access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1398&context=faculty_scholarship |format=PDF |title=WITCHCRAFT ACCUSATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: CASE STUDIES FROM MALAWI |website=Ir.lawnet.fordham.edu |access-date=9 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Whiting|first1=Alex|title=Attacks On Albinos Grow In Malawi As Body Parts Are Sold For Witchcraft|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/attacks-albinos-malawi-amnesty_us_57571410e4b07823f9517df2|access-date=10 December 2016|agency=Thomson Reuters Foundation|work=Huffington Post|date=6 July 2016}}</ref>

{{As of|2010}}, [[LGBT rights in Malawi|homosexuality]] has been illegal in Malawi. In one 2010 case, a couple perceived as homosexual (a [[cis man]] and a [[trans woman]]) faced extensive jail time when convicted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aegis.org/default.asp?req=http://www.aegis.org/news/ap/2010/AP100509.html|title=Gay couple convicted in Malawi faces 14-year term|last=Tenthani|first=Rafael|date=18 May 2010|access-date=22 September 2010|publisher=Aegis|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503184110/http://www.aegis.org/default.asp?req=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aegis.org%2Fnews%2Fap%2F2010%2FAP100509.html|archive-date=3 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The convicted pair, sentenced to the maximum of 14 years of hard labour each, were pardoned two weeks later following the intervention of [[United Nations Secretary General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Malawi pardons jailed gay couple|newspaper=Irish Times|date=29 May 2010|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0529/breaking26.html|access-date=29 May 2010}}</ref> In May 2012, then-President [[Joyce Banda]] pledged to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/18/malawi-president-vows-legalise-homosexuality |title=Malawi president vows to legalise homosexuality |author1=David Smith |author2=Godfrey Mapondera |newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 May 2012 |access-date=18 May 2012}}</ref> It was her successor, [[Peter Mutharika]], who imposed a moratorium in 2015 that suspended the country's anti-gay laws pending further review of the same laws.<ref name="Malawi24">{{cite news |title=Breaking: Malawi holds first Gay pride parade {{!}} Malawi 24 – Malawi news |url=https://malawi24.com/2021/06/26/breaking-malawi-holds-first-gay-pride-parade/ |work=[[Malawi24]] |date=26 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Malawi 'suspends' anti-homosexual laws |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35151341 |work=BBC News |date=21 December 2015}}</ref> On 26 June 2021, the country's [[LGBT]] community held the first [[Pride parade]] in Lilongwe.<ref name="Malawi24"/>