For the latest edition in our series dedicated to the work of our partner organisations, we're spotlighting CHREAA, a non-profit human rights advocacy organisation that campaigns for social justice across several areas pertaining to human rights in Malawi. We spoke to its Founder and Executive Director Victor Mhango, to find out more.
Founder and Executive Director of CHREAA, Victor Mhango
As an organisation, we strive to ensure that we reach as many minority groups as possible. Over the years, CHREAA has actively demonstrated the promotion and protection of vulnerable groups through its advocacy, litigation and access to justice strategies.
CHREAA's campaigning has included the promotion and advocacy of media freedom.
Firstly, can you introduce yourself with your name, title, and where you are based?
My name is Mr Victor Mhango, I'm the Executive Director of the Centre of Human Rights, Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA).
How long have you been at CHREAA?
I have been working at CHREAA since 2002, when the organisation was founded. It finally got registered in 2006.
What was your experience before CHREAA? How did you get into this kind of work?
Before CHREAA and working in the area of human rights, I worked as a journalist in the media industry.
Can you describe your current role? What are your main responsibilities?
I'm currently work as the Executive Director. I oversee the day-to-day managerial activities of NGO, alongside our project managers. I am also responsible for ensuring that the organisation develops good policies and projects that help advance our vision and mission as well as build good partnerships with organisations, governments and stakeholders. I'm also responsible for all fundraising activities for the organisation.
Please talk us through some of the work CHREAA has done? (past and present)
As an organisation, we strive to ensure that we reach as many minority groups as possible. Over the years, CHREAA has actively demonstrated the promotion and protection of vulnerable groups through its advocacy, litigation and access to justice strategies. CHREAA has ongoing projects that have proven to consistently promote human rights. One such project is the Malawi Bail Project which aims to inform the public and those who have been arrested on their right to bail and proper pre-trial procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The Malawi Bail Project also facilitates capacity building training for stakeholders within the criminal justice system in order to address the various problems faced by persons who are arrested or awaiting trial.
CHREAA’s Stop TB project, has been running for the past two years and has improved the fight against TB in prison facilities, through the facilitation of testing services, access to treatment and through capacity building trainings on the management of TB. The project, which is aimed at promoting the rights of prisoners to health, has further, developed a TB Guideline to be used within prisons to ensure that the spread of TB is reduced. This TB Guideline was published earlier in 2023 and has been distributed to prison facilities country-wide.
In CHREAA’s International Development Research Centre project, particularly in relation to Closing the Justice Gap by Critiquing Legal Empowerment Approaches to Address Police Abuse in Malawi, CHREAA facilitated a meeting between Street Connected Children and the Independent Complaints Commission to address the abuses that street connected children were facing at the hands of police. The ICC assured the street connected children that they would make an inquiry on the allegations levelled against the police. This project covers vulnerable groups like informal traders, street connected children, sex workers and LGBTQ persons and assists them to access justice for various human rights violations.
CHREAA envisions a Malawian society that upholds human rights, justice and the rule of law
CHREAA’s continued commitment to change is evidenced in the learning experience and the continuous drive to litigate on matters that still require change. As part of the continuous advocacy against colonial offences such as rogue and vagabond laws, we continue to learn from the precedent of the Mayeso Gwanda Case and work to challenge laws that violate the rights of vulnerable groups.
In a similar recent judgement, that is, Ex-Parte Henry Banda, the court ruled that sweeping exercises conducted by the police are unconstitutional and further compelled the police to develop proper guidelines for sweeping exercises which shall ensure full protection of human rights.
CHREAA also successfully defended the rights of Rastafarian children to religion and education in a case where government schools country-wide were prohibiting them from registering because of their dreadlocks which are symbolic of their religion (Ex Parte Makeda Mbewe - A Minor Through His Father And Next Friend Wisdom Mahara Mbewe - and The Registered Trustees Of The Centre For Human Rights Education, Advice And Assistance CHREAA, Judicial Review, Case Number 55 of 2019). The court, in its decision, acknowledged that the Rastafarian faith is a recognised religion in Malawi and that dreadlocks are a central part of the Rastafarian faith.
The organisation has also demonstrated its commitment to reach communities and vulnerable groups through its legal clinics that have been established in the rural areas of Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Dedza and Mwanza to enhance access to justice.
What are the main human rights issues you are currently working on?
To say CHREAA has a focus on certain human rights issues that it deals with would be an injustice to the organisation and to people needing assistance. We assist all people and do not have specific set of human rights issues we deal with. For example, we have several women rights cases involving gender-based violence, children’s rights cases and projects, prisoner’s rights projects, refugee rights cases and others. Quite frankly the list is long, and we are continuously striving to assist all kinds of issues and people.
How do you personally manage the pressures and responsibilities of working in a human rights context?
One thing people need to understand is that you cannot effectively work in a human rights set-up without passion. Passion is what drives you even through the hardest cases and the most difficult situations. There are times when we are attacked by the communities over issues involving minority groups, however, we are able to withstand it because it is passion that drives us.
One thing people need to understand is that you cannot effectively work in a human rights set-up without passion. Passion is what drives you even through the hardest cases and the most difficult situations.
Victor Mango speaks at the 2023 Access to Legal Aid Conference.
Can you talk us through the relationship between IRLI and CHREAA? How have you worked on the partnership?
CHREAA and IRLI have worked together on several projects and advocacy engagements. We have collaborated on the Camp Courts and advocacy strategy meetings to discuss and address human rights issues. We have also engaged in campaigns for the abolition of the death penalty, and have worked together during the Kafantayeni Case. IRLI and CHREAA have also continuously pleaded for the release of the elderly in prisons.
What’s in store for the future at CHREAA? Are there any specific programs or initiatives planned?
CHREAA is always advancing as evidenced in the past 20 years of the organisation. We plan to continue with human rights advocacy and its projects as well as litigation. CHREAA also plans to continuously work hand-in-hand with IRLI to facilitate Camp Courts to assist with the decongestion of prisons.