The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) says fourteen children are being held illegally in the country’s prisons following their mother’s conviction and detention.

This was disclosed on Thursday in Lilongwe during the launch of MHRC’s survey report on the status of human rights issues in prisons and police cells, which it conducted in August this year.

The report has shown that there is insufficient care for the children including access to food and early childhood development education among other things.

In addition, the report has also revealed serious human rights challenges in prisons such as shortage of food, overcrowding, poor health services and education.

The commission has since called for deliberate measures to improve the welfare of children accompanying their mothers in prisons.

MHRC has also advised government to increase funding to prison institutions in order to address the numerous challenges they are facing.