Constitution of the Republic of Malawi 1994, as amended to 2020
Obligations of the State
  • English
    1. This Constitution is founded upon the following underlying principles—

    d. the inherent dignity and worth of each human being requires that the State and all persons shall recognize and protect human rights and afford the fullest protection to the rights and views of all individuals, groups and minorities whether or not they are entitled to vote;
    … (Sec. 12)
Obligations of the State
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    1. The human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter3 shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature, judiciary and all organs of the Government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Malawi and shall be enforceable in the manner prescribed in this Chapter.
    2. Any person or group of persons, natural or legal, with sufficient interest in the promotion, protection and enforcement of rights under this Chapter shall be entitled to the assistance of the courts, the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission and other organs of the Government to ensure the promotion, protection and enforcement of those rights and the redress of any grievances in respect of those rights. (Sec. 15)
Obligations of the State
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    1. Save in so far as it may be authorized to do so by this Constitution, the National Assembly or any subordinate legislative authority shall not make any law, and the executive and the agencies of Government shall not take any action, which abolishes or abridges the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter, and any law or action in contravention thereof shall, to the extent of the contravention, be invalid.
    … (Sec. 46)
Obligations of the State
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    2. Notwithstanding subsection (1), Parliament shall not have the power to delegate any legislative powers which would substantially and significantly affect the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized by this Constitution. (Sec. 58)
Obligations of Private Parties
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    1. This Constitution is founded upon the following underlying principles—

    d. the inherent dignity and worth of each human being requires that the State and all persons shall recognize and protect human rights and afford the fullest protection to the rights and views of all individuals, groups and minorities whether or not they are entitled to vote;

    2. Every individual shall have duties towards other individuals, his or her family and society, the State and other legally recognized communities and the international community and these duties shall include the duty to respect his or her fellow beings without discrimination and to maintain relations aimed at promoting, safeguarding and reinforcing mutual respect and tolerance; and in recognition of these duties, individual rights and freedoms shall be exercised with due regard for the rights of others, collective security, morality and the common interest. (Sec. 12)
Obligations of Private Parties
  • English
    1. The human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter4 shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature, judiciary and all organs of the Government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Malawi and shall be enforceable in the manner prescribed in this Chapter.
    … (Sec. 15)
Judicial Protection
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    1. Appropriate principles of interpretation of this Constitution shall be developed and employed by the courts to reflect the unique character and supreme status of this Constitution.
    2. In interpreting the provisions of this Constitution a court of law shall—
    a. promote the values which underlie an open and democratic society;
    b. take full account of the provisions of Chapter III and Chapter IV5; and
    c. where applicable, have regard to current norms of public international law and comparable foreign case law.
    3. Where a court of law declares an act of executive or a law to be invalid, that court may apply such interpretation of that act or law as is consistent with this Constitution.
    4. Any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of the courts to entertain matters pertaining to this Constitution shall be invalid. (Sec. 11)
Judicial Protection
  • English
    1. The human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter6 shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature, judiciary and all organs of the Government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Malawi and shall be enforceable in the manner prescribed in this Chapter.
    2. Any person or group of persons, natural or legal, with sufficient interest in the promotion, protection and enforcement of rights under this Chapter shall be entitled to the assistance of the courts, the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission and other organs of the Government to ensure the promotion, protection and enforcement of those rights and the redress of any grievances in respect of those rights. (Sec. 15)
Judicial Protection
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    3. Every person shall have the right to an effective remedy by a court of law or tribunal for acts violating the rights and freedoms granted to him or her by this Constitution or any other law. (Sec. 41)
Judicial Protection
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    ...
    2. Any person who claims that a right or freedom guaranteed by this Constitution has been infringed or threatened shall be entitled—
    a. to make application to a competent court to enforce or protect such a right or freedom;

    3. Where a court referred to in subsection (2)(a) finds that rights or freedoms conferred by this Constitution have been unlawfully denied or violated, it shall have the power to make any orders that are necessary and appropriate to secure the enjoyment of those rights and freedoms and where a court finds that a threat exists to such rights or freedoms, it shall have the power to make any orders necessary and appropriate to prevent those rights and freedoms from being unlawfully denied or violated.
    4. A court referred to in subsection (2)(a) shall have the power to award compensation to any person whose rights or freedoms have been unlawfully denied or violated where it considers it to be appropriate in the circumstances of a particular case.
    ... (Sec. 46)
National Human Rights Bodies
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    1. The human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter7 shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature, judiciary and all organs of the Government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Malawi and shall be enforceable in the manner prescribed in this Chapter.
    2. Any person or group of persons, natural or legal, with sufficient interest in the promotion, protection and enforcement of rights under this Chapter shall be entitled to the assistance of the courts, the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission and other organs of the Government to ensure the promotion, protection and enforcement of those rights and the redress of any grievances in respect of those rights. (Sec. 15)
National Human Rights Bodies
  • English
    ...
    2. Any person who claims that a right or freedom guaranteed by this Constitution has been infringed or threatened shall be entitled—

    b. to make application to the Ombudsman or the Human Rights Commission in order to secure such assistance or advice as he or she may reasonably require.
    … (Sec. 46)
National Human Rights Bodies
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    1. The office of the Ombudsman may investigate any and all cases where it is alleged that a person has suffered injustice and it does not appear that there is any remedy reasonably available by way of proceedings in a court or by way of appeal from a court or where there is no other practicable remedy.
    2. Notwithstanding subsection (1), the powers of the office of the Ombudsman under this section shall not oust the jurisdiction of the courts and the decisions and exercise of powers by the Ombudsman shall be reviewable by the High Court on the application of any person with sufficient interest in a case the Ombudsman has determined. (Sec. 123)
National Human Rights Bodies
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    There shall be a Human Rights Commission the primary functions of which shall be the protection and investigation of violations of the rights accorded by this Constitution or any other law. (Sec. 129)
National Human Rights Bodies
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    The Human Rights Commission shall, with respect to the applications of an individual or class of persons, or on its own motion, have such powers of investigation and recommendation as are reasonably necessary for the effective promotion of the rights conferred by or under this Constitution, or any other written law but shall not exercise a judicial or legislative function and shall not be given powers so to do. (Sec. 130)
Links to all sites last visited 8 November 2023
2
Chapter III on Fundamental Principles; Chapter IV on Human Rights.
3
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
4
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
5
Chapter III on Fundamental Principles; Chapter IV on Human Rights.
6
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
7
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
8
Chapter IV on Human Rights.
9
Chapter III on Fundamental Principles; Chapter IV on Human Rights.
10
Chapter IV on Human Rights.