Torture is routinely used as part of police investigations and prison punishment schemes in many parts of Africa.
Common reports of torture in African prisons and police stations include sexual abuse, the administration of electric shocks, the unleashing of dogs on prisoners, and physical beatings. These instances of torture occur amid prison conditions which are substandard and drastically in need of change as evidenced by overcrowding and the systematic denial of medical care, food, and access to legal counsel in many African prisons and police stations.
The Center for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA), a Malawian paralegal organization which works in Malawi’s police stations and prisons, in conjunction with law students and faculty from the Walter Leitner International Human Rights Clinic at Fordham Law School in the United States, recently conducted an anti-torture training workshop for members of the Malawi Prison Service and Malawi Police Service. Malawi is not immune to the instances of torture that occur in prisons and police stations throughout Africa, and in fact, throughout the world. We invited prison and police officers from across the country to gather in Blantyre, Malawi, to learn about their obligations to protect prisoners’ rights to be free from torture under international and Malawian law.
During the anti-torture training, time and again, the officers raised the issue of lack of resources as an impediment to upholding prisoners’ rights and combating torture. Although we are sensitive to the fact that in countries in the Global South like Malawi, this crucial consideration makes it difficult, and some might claim impossible, to uphold the human rights of prisoners, insufficient resources are not an excuse for torture. In fact, allegations of torture committed by the United States against detainees post-9/11, prove that a country’s abundance of resources does not equal the absence of torture.
While we empathize with the police and prison officers who during our training bemoaned the lack of resources at their disposal, and while we believe that the Malawian government should earmark more resources to uphold prisoners’ rights, police and prison officers can implement practices and reforms to combat torture without depending on a drastic reallocation of resources. For example, abolishing the use of torture as an investigative tool, in theory and in practice, does not necessitate vast amounts of increased resources. It does not cost anything, for instance, to inform a suspect of his right to remain silent. It does not cost anything to refrain from beating a suspect or to report instances of torture to a supervisor. Certainly, resources would be needed to create new training courses and reliable accountability mechanisms to combat torture. But such changes are not burdensome or unreasonable. Perhaps what is in most need is increased political will to confront these issues.
Moving forward, we hope that all of us - law enforcement, human rights activists, and ordinary citizens alike - will look beyond the resources argument when thinking of how to combat torture within African prisons and police stations, and in doing so embrace our duty as conscientious members of the global community and abiders of international law.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Kenyan banker, Malawian group win Norwegian prize
OSLO — Norway's Yara Foundation says a Kenyan banker and a Malawian farmers' group have won its annual prize promoting former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for a green revolution in Africa.
The foundation says Kenya's Equity Bank chairman Peter Munga and the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi will share the award honoring "significant contributions to the reduction of hunger and poverty in Africa."
The foundation said Tuesday the 2009 prize recognizes Munga's "dedication to the unbanked poor" in his homeland and the Malawi association's promotion of "farming as a viable business among smallholder farmers."
The prize includes a $100,000 monetary award and will be presented in Oslo in early September.
The foundation says Kenya's Equity Bank chairman Peter Munga and the National Smallholder Farmers' Association of Malawi will share the award honoring "significant contributions to the reduction of hunger and poverty in Africa."
The foundation said Tuesday the 2009 prize recognizes Munga's "dedication to the unbanked poor" in his homeland and the Malawi association's promotion of "farming as a viable business among smallholder farmers."
The prize includes a $100,000 monetary award and will be presented in Oslo in early September.
Malawi: 3% use female condoms
Three percent of Malawian women are currently using female condoms (FC). The United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) said it is a disturbing development for the southern Africa country.
condom
Sandra Mapemba, UNFPA female condoms programmes coordinator for Malawi, said the statistics contradict sharply with male condoms usage. At least 45 percent of Malawian men use condoms, she said.
The government has intensified female condoms distribution efforts, AfricaNews reporter said. Between 2000 and 2006 about 21 public health delivery centres and non-governmental organizations have joined hands in the distribution.
The UNFPA boss feared that poor female condoms usage could exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. She called for concerted efforts among stakeholders to improve the situation.
“There is need to direct more energy towards scaling up FCs distribution in rural areas,” she added. However, an official at the National AIDS Commission Maria Mukwala put the blame on lack of proper coordination and implementation mechanisms.
Reply
condom
Sandra Mapemba, UNFPA female condoms programmes coordinator for Malawi, said the statistics contradict sharply with male condoms usage. At least 45 percent of Malawian men use condoms, she said.
The government has intensified female condoms distribution efforts, AfricaNews reporter said. Between 2000 and 2006 about 21 public health delivery centres and non-governmental organizations have joined hands in the distribution.
The UNFPA boss feared that poor female condoms usage could exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. She called for concerted efforts among stakeholders to improve the situation.
“There is need to direct more energy towards scaling up FCs distribution in rural areas,” she added. However, an official at the National AIDS Commission Maria Mukwala put the blame on lack of proper coordination and implementation mechanisms.
Reply
Local Fulbright scholar will use music to teach about HIV
NEW YORK — Instead of getting a 9-5 desk job after college, Andrew Magill will travel to Africa and record an album.
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The 2005 Reynolds High graduate won a 2009 Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship.
The grant will combine his passion for music with his interests in international relations and public health care issues.
“I have been really upset about the misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS,” said Magill, who graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in May. “I think this is a way I can maybe narrow the gap of information. I think music has proven time and time again that it can do that in a lot of different ways.”
One of the four students from across the nation selected for the fellowship, Magill will spend next year in Lilongwe, Malawi, working with the UNC Project-Malawi.
He will collect narratives about HIV/AIDS from Malawian people affected by the virus. Then, collaborating with Malawian musicians, he will create a music album that uses the narratives to explore different issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African country.
Magill hopes his album addresses issues such as the social stigma placed on victims of the virus and Western versus traditional medicine.
Proceeds from album sales will go to AIDS social service networks in Malawi.
“This project was really an attempt to merge my interests in music, healthcare and African people,” Magill said. “I decided to think big because I was graduating in May, and I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do.”
Magill grew up in a musical household. His parents play traditional Irish music, and he's been playing the fiddle for most of his life. He also sings and plays the guitar.
Magill became interested in African social and health care issues after studying abroad in Ghana, and he decided he wanted to return to the continent.
Applicants for the Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship submitted a project proposal, which was reviewed by a committee of experts and academics. Magill was one of 80 to apply.
Singer Santigold and members of the rock bands Death Cab for Cutie, Vampire Weekend and My Chemical Romance reviewed the applications and identified the most qualified.
“We chose really the very best proposals and the best students for these awards,” said Rosalind Swenson of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, part of the U.S. Department of State. “These people that go abroad — particularly the mtvU people that go abroad — they are viewed as cultural ambassadors for the United States.”
As part of his fellowship, mtvU and mtvU.com will feature videos, podcasts and a blog of Magill's experience in Malawi.
Magill just hopes he's able to get his message across through his music.
“I just want to make a great album people can be jazzed about,” he said. “When they hear it I want them to think, ‘Wow, that's great music,' and they learn about HIV/AIDS.”
Advertisement
The 2005 Reynolds High graduate won a 2009 Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship.
The grant will combine his passion for music with his interests in international relations and public health care issues.
“I have been really upset about the misinformation surrounding HIV/AIDS,” said Magill, who graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in May. “I think this is a way I can maybe narrow the gap of information. I think music has proven time and time again that it can do that in a lot of different ways.”
One of the four students from across the nation selected for the fellowship, Magill will spend next year in Lilongwe, Malawi, working with the UNC Project-Malawi.
He will collect narratives about HIV/AIDS from Malawian people affected by the virus. Then, collaborating with Malawian musicians, he will create a music album that uses the narratives to explore different issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African country.
Magill hopes his album addresses issues such as the social stigma placed on victims of the virus and Western versus traditional medicine.
Proceeds from album sales will go to AIDS social service networks in Malawi.
“This project was really an attempt to merge my interests in music, healthcare and African people,” Magill said. “I decided to think big because I was graduating in May, and I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do.”
Magill grew up in a musical household. His parents play traditional Irish music, and he's been playing the fiddle for most of his life. He also sings and plays the guitar.
Magill became interested in African social and health care issues after studying abroad in Ghana, and he decided he wanted to return to the continent.
Applicants for the Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship submitted a project proposal, which was reviewed by a committee of experts and academics. Magill was one of 80 to apply.
Singer Santigold and members of the rock bands Death Cab for Cutie, Vampire Weekend and My Chemical Romance reviewed the applications and identified the most qualified.
“We chose really the very best proposals and the best students for these awards,” said Rosalind Swenson of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, part of the U.S. Department of State. “These people that go abroad — particularly the mtvU people that go abroad — they are viewed as cultural ambassadors for the United States.”
As part of his fellowship, mtvU and mtvU.com will feature videos, podcasts and a blog of Magill's experience in Malawi.
Magill just hopes he's able to get his message across through his music.
“I just want to make a great album people can be jazzed about,” he said. “When they hear it I want them to think, ‘Wow, that's great music,' and they learn about HIV/AIDS.”
New bid to elect bishop in Central Africa
The House of Bishops of the Church of the Province of Central Africa has scheduled episcopal elections for Aug 1 for the Dioceses of Lake Malawi and Northern Malawi.
Lake Malawi has been without a bishop since the death of Bishop Peter Nyanja in 2005. On July 29, 2005 the Vicar of Ealing the Rev. Nicholas Henderson was elected bishop of the rural Central African diocese. However, the election was challenged over procedural irregularities and on the grounds that his theological views evidenced by his onetime leadership of the Modern Church Peoples’ Union made him unfit for office. A court of confirmation led by Archbishop Bernard Malango in November of that year declined to affirm his election.
In 2007 the House of Bishops rejected an appeal lodged by supporters of Fr. Henderson and ordered a new election. However the Elective Assembly was prorogued on Feb 5, 2008 after a court issued an injunction on behalf of the “House of Laity of the Diocese of Lake Malawi” who charged that the required three month notice had not been met.
The names of the candidates for Lake Malawi have not yet been released, but Fr. Henderson is understood not to be under consideration.
Only one candidate is presently on the ballot for election as Bishop of Northern Malawi to succeed the Rt. Rev. Christopher Boyle, who was named Assistant Bishop of Leicester in March. The Very Rev. J. Scott Wilson, SSC, rector of All Saints Church in Weatherford, Texas in the Diocese of Forth Worth has extensive contacts with the diocese and was runner up to Bishop Boyle in the last election in 2001.
News of the new elections was released by the province after the consecration of Bishop Brighton Malasa as Bishop of Upper Shire on June 7 at Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral in Mangochi on June 7.
The President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika urged the new bishop to be faithful to his office and asked all Malawians to “care, support and love one another so as to bring hope to those who have lost it in this life.”
Lake Malawi has been without a bishop since the death of Bishop Peter Nyanja in 2005. On July 29, 2005 the Vicar of Ealing the Rev. Nicholas Henderson was elected bishop of the rural Central African diocese. However, the election was challenged over procedural irregularities and on the grounds that his theological views evidenced by his onetime leadership of the Modern Church Peoples’ Union made him unfit for office. A court of confirmation led by Archbishop Bernard Malango in November of that year declined to affirm his election.
In 2007 the House of Bishops rejected an appeal lodged by supporters of Fr. Henderson and ordered a new election. However the Elective Assembly was prorogued on Feb 5, 2008 after a court issued an injunction on behalf of the “House of Laity of the Diocese of Lake Malawi” who charged that the required three month notice had not been met.
The names of the candidates for Lake Malawi have not yet been released, but Fr. Henderson is understood not to be under consideration.
Only one candidate is presently on the ballot for election as Bishop of Northern Malawi to succeed the Rt. Rev. Christopher Boyle, who was named Assistant Bishop of Leicester in March. The Very Rev. J. Scott Wilson, SSC, rector of All Saints Church in Weatherford, Texas in the Diocese of Forth Worth has extensive contacts with the diocese and was runner up to Bishop Boyle in the last election in 2001.
News of the new elections was released by the province after the consecration of Bishop Brighton Malasa as Bishop of Upper Shire on June 7 at Sts Peter and Paul Cathedral in Mangochi on June 7.
The President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika urged the new bishop to be faithful to his office and asked all Malawians to “care, support and love one another so as to bring hope to those who have lost it in this life.”
The Virtues of a Free Market System
Many attempts to discredit free market economics have been made by many writers. However, most of them inadvertently actually provide sufficient evidence of its efficacy as an economic system for Africa. Many proponents of a socialist system envy the European model of social welfare systems but forget to point out that economically many run market systems that allow competition amongst the private sector. The capitalist system is efficient precisely because it generates wealth and jobs which in turn provide tax revenue to Government to provide the social welfare schemes we would like for poor countries in Africa to copy. Some of the countries cited as examples (Britain and Scandinavian countries) are some of the most well run free market economies with huge multinational firms, like, BP, Nokia, Philips, British Airways, and KLM to name but a few originating from those same countries.
More importantly, Britain is the MOTHER of privatisation and deregulation. It should also be noted that even though privatisation in Britain started under the Tories (Conservative Party) the current Labour government has not reversed this process. In fact, Labour has extended privatisation to the health, social security and education sectors successfully. More importantly, the Labour Government soon after taking power in 1997 immediately imposed a “windfall” tax on UK utility companies as a way of financing social programmes aimed at creating new jobs.
Donor agencies from the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands are the biggest proponents of so called “pro-poor” market reforms in Africa. DFID is financing a major part of Africa’s public sector reform; SIDA is financing the financial sector reforms in Africa, while the Dutch are the major financiers of the agriculture sector and private sector development reforms. Free market economic systems are the best way for a country to create wealth and get out of poverty. If we look at the top ten countries based on the UN Human Development Index, we find that highly deregulated countries are in the top ten, namely; 1. Norway 2. Iceland 3. Australia 4. Luxembourg 5. Canada 6. Sweden 7. Switzerland 8. Ireland 9. Belgium 10. United States
As you will note from the above there is no country in the top ten that is socialist in any shape or form. Further, if we look at the top ten countries in terms of GDP per capita you find the same story and basically the same countries. When you compare a list of the top ten countries, with the lowest-ranking country (Malawi), by GDP per capita (in terms of Purchasing Power Parity, or PPP) it shows the following:
1. Luxembourg 69,800
2. Norway 42,364
3. United States 41,399
4. Ireland 40,610
5. Iceland 35,586
6. Denmark 34,737
7. Canada 34,273
8. Austria 33,615
9. Hong Kong, SAR 33,411
10. Switzerland 32,571
179. Malawi 596
In economics, purchasing power parity (PPP) is an estimate of the exchange rate required to equalise the purchasing power of different currencies, given the prices of goods and services in the countries concerned. PPP exchange rates are used for a number of purposes, most notably to compare the standard of living of two or more countries. It is necessary because comparing the gross domestic products (GDP) using market exchange rates does not accurately measure differences in income and consumption. Market exchange rates fluctuate widely, and the purchasing power parity hypothesis suggests that the long run equilibrium value is that which yields purchasing power parity.
From the above figures it is plain to see that statistics do not match the theory of capitalism as some dangerous animal out to steal people’s wealth. In actual fact it is a catalyst to economic development and it distributes wealth much better than using corrupt state controlled means which do not reach the intended masses. In 1755, the great economist and philosopher Adam Smith declared “little else is required to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes and the tolerable administration of justice”. This leading advocate of laissez-faire capitalism is widely regarded as the father of modern economics around the developed world.
While he never used the term capitalism, he referred to his ideal as “the system of natural liberty”. Indeed what is known today as capitalism is all about liberty. Those who strongly support individual liberty, as most Africans do, see that it is government interference in people’s lives that is a great barrier to freedom. Anything that impinges on individual freedom is likely to have seriously negative consequences. We should not discard a system of free market economics just because the governments around Africa may have failed to implement effective market deregulation.
Instead we should learn from our mistakes and improve the system. Socialism or Marxism works only in the minds of academics and failed politicians, the reality on the ground is stark. Socialist countries are the poorest countries in the world. If China, India and Russia can embrace market economics, who are we in Africa to advocate a return to the dark ages? We should get away from ideology and begin to reflect on how we can create systems that will ensure we can create new jobs and diversify our economy and get the over 70% of our people out of poverty!! Let us take a serious look at the success and experience of India and China.
More importantly, Britain is the MOTHER of privatisation and deregulation. It should also be noted that even though privatisation in Britain started under the Tories (Conservative Party) the current Labour government has not reversed this process. In fact, Labour has extended privatisation to the health, social security and education sectors successfully. More importantly, the Labour Government soon after taking power in 1997 immediately imposed a “windfall” tax on UK utility companies as a way of financing social programmes aimed at creating new jobs.
Donor agencies from the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands are the biggest proponents of so called “pro-poor” market reforms in Africa. DFID is financing a major part of Africa’s public sector reform; SIDA is financing the financial sector reforms in Africa, while the Dutch are the major financiers of the agriculture sector and private sector development reforms. Free market economic systems are the best way for a country to create wealth and get out of poverty. If we look at the top ten countries based on the UN Human Development Index, we find that highly deregulated countries are in the top ten, namely; 1. Norway 2. Iceland 3. Australia 4. Luxembourg 5. Canada 6. Sweden 7. Switzerland 8. Ireland 9. Belgium 10. United States
As you will note from the above there is no country in the top ten that is socialist in any shape or form. Further, if we look at the top ten countries in terms of GDP per capita you find the same story and basically the same countries. When you compare a list of the top ten countries, with the lowest-ranking country (Malawi), by GDP per capita (in terms of Purchasing Power Parity, or PPP) it shows the following:
1. Luxembourg 69,800
2. Norway 42,364
3. United States 41,399
4. Ireland 40,610
5. Iceland 35,586
6. Denmark 34,737
7. Canada 34,273
8. Austria 33,615
9. Hong Kong, SAR 33,411
10. Switzerland 32,571
179. Malawi 596
In economics, purchasing power parity (PPP) is an estimate of the exchange rate required to equalise the purchasing power of different currencies, given the prices of goods and services in the countries concerned. PPP exchange rates are used for a number of purposes, most notably to compare the standard of living of two or more countries. It is necessary because comparing the gross domestic products (GDP) using market exchange rates does not accurately measure differences in income and consumption. Market exchange rates fluctuate widely, and the purchasing power parity hypothesis suggests that the long run equilibrium value is that which yields purchasing power parity.
From the above figures it is plain to see that statistics do not match the theory of capitalism as some dangerous animal out to steal people’s wealth. In actual fact it is a catalyst to economic development and it distributes wealth much better than using corrupt state controlled means which do not reach the intended masses. In 1755, the great economist and philosopher Adam Smith declared “little else is required to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes and the tolerable administration of justice”. This leading advocate of laissez-faire capitalism is widely regarded as the father of modern economics around the developed world.
While he never used the term capitalism, he referred to his ideal as “the system of natural liberty”. Indeed what is known today as capitalism is all about liberty. Those who strongly support individual liberty, as most Africans do, see that it is government interference in people’s lives that is a great barrier to freedom. Anything that impinges on individual freedom is likely to have seriously negative consequences. We should not discard a system of free market economics just because the governments around Africa may have failed to implement effective market deregulation.
Instead we should learn from our mistakes and improve the system. Socialism or Marxism works only in the minds of academics and failed politicians, the reality on the ground is stark. Socialist countries are the poorest countries in the world. If China, India and Russia can embrace market economics, who are we in Africa to advocate a return to the dark ages? We should get away from ideology and begin to reflect on how we can create systems that will ensure we can create new jobs and diversify our economy and get the over 70% of our people out of poverty!! Let us take a serious look at the success and experience of India and China.
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