36th Session of the UPR Working Group, Review of Malawi, Statement by Human Rights Advisor TAZAWA Yuuka (3 November 2020)

 
Thank you, Madam President.
 
　Japan warmly welcomes the delegation of Malawi to this session.
 
　Japan commends Malawi’s commitment to end child marriages and to address violence and discrimination against women and girls. We acknowledge the progress made in these areas, including through the formulation of the National Strategy on ending child marriages 2018-2022 and the enactment of legislation to prohibit marriage of persons under the age of 18. While we appreciate such efforts, we encourage Malawi to strengthen the implementation of its measures to protect women’s and girls’ rights.
 
　Japan has three recommendations:
 

1. increase efforts to end child marriages in practice and ensure that the existing legal protections against child marriages are fully implemented;
    
2. take further measures to promote and protect women’s and girls’ rights, including prevention of gender-based violence; and
    
3. combat violence and discrimination against persons with albinism.

 
We wish the delegation of Malawi every success in the review.
 
I thank you, Madam President.