The Civil Society Coalition on Migration (CCM) has urged the government to fast-track proposed refugee law reforms aimed at strengthening the protection and rights of displaced people in Malawi. The coalition welcomed recommendations by the Special Law Commission to replace the Refugees Act, which has remained largely unchanged since 1989.
The commission’s report was unveiled on October 9, 2026, by its chairperson, Justice Professor Redson E. Kapindu. It proposes a new Refugees (Protection and Management) Bill and amendments to disaster management legislation to address gaps in the protection of refugees, asylum seekers and people displaced by natural disasters.
CCM chairperson Victor Chagunyuka Mhango described the recommendations as a significant step towards safeguarding the dignity and rights of displaced people.
The proposed reforms include provisions for refugees to access education and economic opportunities, enjoy freedom of movement and become more self-reliant. They also propose establishing an independent Refugees Appeals Board, with further appeals to the High Court.
The commission has further recommended replacing the detention of asylum seekers in prisons and police cells with appropriate reception centres and transit shelters.
The proposed framework also seeks to strengthen protection for children, women, older people and persons with disabilities. It includes pathways for eligible long-term residents to apply for permanent residence and allows refugees born in Malawi to seek citizenship upon reaching the age of 18, subject to the proposed legal provisions.
The proposed amendments to disaster management legislation would establish a framework for addressing the needs of people displaced by natural disasters, including climate-related events.
In a statement issued on October 13, CCM said the recommendations would only have a meaningful impact if they were translated into law.
“A good report only changes lives once its recommendations become law,” the coalition said.
CCM has urged the Ministry of Justice to expedite the submission of the proposed bills to Cabinet and called on Parliament to prioritise their debate and passage.
The coalition has also encouraged the government to reconsider Malawi’s reservations to the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
CCM, a network of civil society organisations working on migration governance, has pledged to provide technical support and continue advocating for reforms that protect displaced people while taking into account the interests of host communities.
