Judges Undergo Orientation on HIV and AIDS Act

The Honourable Chief Justice, Rizine Robert Mzikamanda, SC, has called on judges to take full advantage of capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing their ability to effectively interpret and apply laws that protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV and AIDS.

The Chief Justice made the remarks this morning when he officially opened an orientation session on the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act No. 9 of 2018 for Justices of Appeal and High Court Judges in Blantyre.

He said the Judiciary has a constitutional duty to interpret, protect and enforce the law and that judicial officers must be adequately equipped with the knowledge and skills required to fulfil this mandate.

The Chief Justice noted that the orientation session was organised following findings from a 2021 Malawi Human Rights Commission monitoring exercise, which indicated that some judicial officers had limited knowledge of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act and its application. He described the training as a timely intervention that would strengthen the Judiciary's capacity to administer justice and reinforce public confidence in the courts.

The Chief Justice further commended the National AIDS Commission (NAC) and the Judiciary Training Committee for organising the orientation, describing the initiative as an important contribution to the Judiciary's ongoing reform and professional development agenda.

Speaking earlier, Honourable Justice Joseph Chigona, Deputy Chairperson of the Judiciary Training Committee, said the Malawi Judiciary remains committed to ensuring that judges and judicial officers are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to administer justice in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of all individuals, including those living with HIV and AIDS.

Chief Executive Officer for NAC also emphasised the critical role of the Judiciary in upholding the rights and dignity of people living with HIV and ensuring the effective implementation of the Act.

The workshop was designed to familiarise judges with the key provisions of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act No. 9 of 2018 and provide them with practical knowledge and skills required to effectively handle HIV and AIDS-related cases.

The orientation session, which brought together Justices of Appeal and High Court Judges, was preceded by two earlier sessions that involved other judges of the High Court and magistrates from across Malawi.