By Prince Henderson
Civil Society Organisations from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region have been challenged to address stateless and at the same time protect statelessness persons.
The call has been made at a two day workshop for civil society organizations organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Lawyers for Human Rights in Pretoria, South Africa. Malawi is being represented at the workshop by Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s Justice and Peace arm, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and Centre for Hunan Rights Rehabilitation (CHRR).
According to Article 1 (1) of the 1954 convention on the status of stateless persons define a stateless person as “……a person who is not considered as a national by any state under the operation of the law.”
CCJP National Secretary, Martin Chiphwanya said the workshop will enable his organisation engage policy makers on what needs to be done to ensure that our laws do not perpetuate stateless and discrimination.
“There is need to review our laws on citizenship to ensure that they do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, marriage or religion. Experts have to be engaged and take a comprehensive look at our laws,” said Chiphwanya in an email communiqué from South Africa.
Chiphwanya observed that birth registration has to be comprehensive to ensure that all newly born children are properly protected so that they do not fall victim to statelessness at any point.
Delivering his key note presentation, Dr. Matthias Reus, Senior Regional Protection Officer for UNHCR emphased on the need to enlist support for the protection of statelessness people.
The workshop which according to Chiphwanya has created a common understanding of state and the right to nationality attracted other civil society organizations like Save the Children, University of South Africa and Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council.
CCJP which participated to the workshop is mandated to promote awareness of human rights, justice and peace in the communities the church serves hence ensure that there is a Creation of a God–fearing, just and peaceful Malawian society that promotes integral development and lasting peace that will contribute to the common effort of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and the whole church.