CHILDREN DEMAND ACTION: MANIFESTO CALLS ON POLITICAL PARTIES TO PRIORITIZE CHILD RIGHTS

By Michael Martin//MALAWI

°°”Listen to us. Include us. Act for us.

As Malawi gears up for the 2025 General Elections, children across the country are sending a clear and urgent message to political leaders: end child abuse and exploitation now.

In April this year, children from all regions of Malawi launched the Children’s Manifesto 2025–2030, a groundbreaking document demanding action on the issues affecting their lives most including child marriage, abuse, poor education systems, lack of access to clean water and health services, and the growing impact of climate change.

The Manifesto, crafted by children through consultations supported by civil society and child-focused organizations, was officially presented to six of major political parties in Malawi including Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Transformation Movement (UTM), United Democratic Front (UDF), People’s Party (PP), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), and the People’s Development Party (PDP).

Child rights activist Memory Nyangosi resonates the concerns of many, taking to social media to call out political parties that have yet to formally respond to the Children’s Manifesto.

“At the rate we are as a country, child protection remains dangerously neglected,” she wrote.

“It’s unfortunate to see some parties treating this issue as an afterthought. Our children deserve better.”

She said in a bold statement that the Children’s Manifesto is not just a wish list but It is a strategic call to action designed to influence the political manifestos of parties ahead of this year’s elections.

Again, Nyangosi demanded end child marriage and all forms of abuse, invest in quality, child-friendly education, expand access to clean water, sanitation, and health care.

She added that there is need to strengthen social protection services, taking urgent action on climate change and environmental degradation and ensuring meaningful child participation in decision-making.

During the launch of the Malawi Congress Party’s 2025 Manifesto on 19 July, 2025, at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, President Lazarus Chakwera acknowledged the Children’s Manifesto, commending the young people behind it and vowing to uphold their rights as a cornerstone of national development.

“We have heard the voices of our children loud and clear. As a government, we will continue to fight child marriage, strengthen social welfare systems, and invest in education,” said Chakwera.

“No society can prosper when its children are neglected. We must build a Malawi where every child is safe, educated, and empowered.”

However, critics argue that previous promises have not translated into sustained action on the ground. UNICEF and local organizations report that nearly 46% of girls in Malawi are married before the age of 18, while thousands of children continue to face physical, emotional, and sexual abuse with minimal legal or social support.