Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has decried being sidelined by organisers of demonstrations against human rights violations.

According to MHRC Executive Secretary Habiba Osman, it has become a practice that each time people are holding demonstrations, the commission is neither served with a petition nor a copy of how the issues have been resolved.

“Of late, the Commission has noted that most organisers do not furnish the Commission with a copy of their petition

“Yet, the issues raised in the petition have a bearing on the rights of the petitioners and those they represent,” lamented Osman.

She stressed the need for organisers of demonstrations to ensure they engage the commission for proper follow up of human rights violations.

The Commission says it is common practice that during demonstrations a petition is prepared by the organisers and presented to relevant authorities for redress of the issues raised.

On this, Osman said the Commission as a national human rights watchdog, fails to appreciate the issues raised and engage the authority to whom the petition is addressed and act upon the matters raised.

MHRC understand that with a petition at hand, the Commission will be able to thoroughly analyse the issues raised and engage the petitions to act upon their grievances whenever necessary, follow up on the issues and monitor the implementation of the remedies provided.

Section 38 of the country`s Constitution guarantees the right to hold demonstrations.