The Human Rights Defenders have reiterated on the need for public awareness on people’s different rights in order to facilitate change in different sectors of society in the country.

The appeal has been made in Lilongwe during a Human Rights Coordinating Forum Meeting which was organized by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC).

In an interview with YFM, Nyahbinghi National Council vice national chairperson Ras Mikah Chiselah said rights of more people are being infringed upon, and that there is need for public awareness on human rights.

According to Ras Chiselah, the meeting is of paramount importance to them as the Rastafarian Community because their rights have been violated for so long.

“The meeting is going to facilitate information sharing because there are people right there whose rights have been violated but they have no platform where they can present their complaints,” said Ras Chiselah.

On her part commissioner for Malawi Human Rights Commission Martha Chizuma said more needs to be done when it comes to implementation of different rights at all sectors in the country.

“I think what really matters is the compliance to the country’s laws, and to make sure that people on the ground are protected in terms of economic social rights we are still ragging behind in many areas,” she said.

The meeting saw participation of human rights defenders in different sectors, including health, education and issues that affect children, women and youth.