Nyasa Rainbow Alliance (NRA), with support from the Embassy of Canada, and The Other Foundation, held a safety and security training on 22nd January 2024, with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community at Mafumu Hotel in Lilongwe. The training was held to train the LGBTQIA+ members on safety and security, on a personal and group level, and how they can make the safest decisions regarding their safety considering how volatile the environment is for the LGBTQIA+ community in Malawi.
Besides training the participants on safety and security, the session was also held to increase the awareness of LGBTQIA+ members on the role of the Independent Complaints Commission in Malawi. The participants were educated on the role and functions of the ICC, and the procedure for filing complaints that is well-secured and privacy sensitive. This will provide an avenue through which incidents of abuse and failure to act on the complaints of LGBTQIA+ persons by the Malawi Police Service are reported and investigated effectively.
The ICC has been an active entity by itself for the past year and is dedicated to receiving complaints that involve the Malawi Police Service and Malawian citizens regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation.
The Commissioner of ICC who made a presentation at the training, Christopher Tukula said since its inception, the Commission has resolved over 122 cases that have resulted in different conclusions. Tukula has since called upon the LGBTQIA+ community to lodge their complaints to the Commission against police officers and the Malawi Police Service if they face any abuse, unlawful arrests or detention, physical assault, and failure to act on complaints, among others to ensure the overall accountability of the service.
The partnership between NRA and the ICC represents a significant stride towards building a society that embraces diversity and upholds the rights of every individual. Through comprehensive training programs and collaborative initiatives, this unique alliance has the potential to create lasting change, fostering a society where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live free from discrimination and prejudice.
The Malawi Independent Complaints Commission was established in 2020, under Section 128 of the 2010 Police Act, to receive and investigate complaints by the public against police officers and the Police Service and ensure the overall accountability of the service. The Commission rolled out its operations on the 1st July 2021 and has its Secretariat in Lilongwe.
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