Women Lawyers Association of Malawi

The Women Lawyers Association of Malawi is a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1998 to promote and protect the rights of women and children in Malawi. Its work combines legal representation, public-interest advocacy, policy engagement, and research. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing brand, the organization functions as a civil-society legal-services and rights-advocacy institution whose public identity is closely associated with access to justice, gender equality, and legal reform. The association has worked on cases involving gender-based violence, sexual abuse, discrimination, and the protection of women from abuses by public officials. It has also participated in campaigns seeking to strengthen the representation of women in political institutions and to challenge laws or practices considered harmful to women. Its activities include representing vulnerable clients, submitting petitions to public authorities, supporting judicial challenges, and contributing legal arguments to legislative debates. Among the issues associated with the organization is Malawi's former criminalization of HIV transmission. In 2017, the association supported advocacy led by the Minister of Health, Atupele Muluzi, that contributed to Parliament's decriminalization of HIV transmission. The organization argued that the criminal provision was driven by fear, reinforced stigma, and could expose women to additional discrimination or violence. The association also became prominent in public debate over gender-based violence in 2017. Following a series of reported attacks in Lilongwe, it joined a public protest and presented a petition calling for stronger accountability, including dismissal of public employees found responsible for gender-based violence. Lawyers associated with the organization represented Beatrice Mateyo after her arrest during the protest and her subsequent application for judicial review. In 2018, the association lobbied for greater female representation in Malawi's government. It petitioned President Peter Mutharika and invoked the constitutional commitment to gender equality, arguing that the composition of the cabinet did not adequately reflect women. The campaign was supported by the 50:50 campaign movement and included criticism of public statements by a deputy minister concerning women political opponents. The organization later represented 18 women who alleged that they had been sexually assaulted by police following protests connected with Malawi's 2019 presidential election. In 2021, the case prompted public controversy over legal fees and donor-funded representation. The association's president defended the fees, while the Malawi Law Society and Parliament were reported to be considering investigations. The episode illustrates both the association's role in high-profile public-interest litigation and the scrutiny that can accompany donor-supported legal work. The association has also maintained a role in developing the professional and institutional visibility of Malawian women lawyers. In 2025, Dr. Bernadette Malunga joined its board and became the first recipient of the Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo Award, established to recognize Malawian women lawyers advancing women's rights. Later plans reported in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice described cooperation with the association on an artificial-intelligence legal-information tool. The proposed system is intended to help users prepare common legal remedies, including protection-order applications, provide information in local languages, and direct people toward nearby lawyers. The initiative reflects the association's continuing focus on widening access to justice beyond conventional legal representation.

The Women Lawyers Association of Malawi was founded in 1998 as a non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of women and children. From its beginning, the association's role extended beyond individual legal representation. It combined legal assistance with advocacy for changes to laws and public institutions that perpetuated violence, discrimination, or unequal access to justice. The association's work has included cases involving sexual abuse, gender-based violence, and alleged misconduct by police and other public officials. It has also sought to influence national policy through petitions, public campaigns, legislative advocacy, and research. This combination of litigation and reform work has made the organization a recurring participant in debates about women's safety, political participation, and the treatment of vulnerable people under Malawian law. In 2017, Sarai Chisala-Tempelhoff became president. That year the association participated in a major Lilongwe protest responding to a series of reported attacks against women. Chisala-Tempelhoff presented a petition demanding action against public employees responsible for gender-based violence, including dismissal where appropriate. The organization also represented Beatrice Mateyo, a protest participant arrested and charged after displaying a placard regarded by police as offensive. Mateyo sought judicial review, with legal assistance from the association. The same year, the association supported Health Minister Atupele Muluzi's successful parliamentary effort to decriminalize HIV transmission. Its position was that criminalization was based on fear rather than effective public-health reasoning, and that the law could increase stigma and expose women to further violence. This campaign demonstrated the association's willingness to address the interaction between criminal law, public health, gender inequality, and human rights. In November 2018, the organization renewed its political advocacy by petitioning President Peter Mutharika to improve the representation of women in government. Working alongside or with support from the 50:50 campaign movement, it argued that the cabinet did not contain enough women and invoked section 13 of the Constitution. The association also called for action concerning statements by Deputy Minister Charles Mchacha about women political opponents. Although the president referred to prior discussion of the matter, the association maintained that a public speech did not amount to a concrete commitment and indicated that it would pursue further action if gender balance was not improved. The organization later represented 18 women who alleged that police officers sexually assaulted them following protests linked to Malawi's 2019 national election. In 2021, protests and media scrutiny focused on the cost of the litigation. Critics alleged that the association's lawyers had received substantial donor support and were also seeking payment through the courts, characterizing this as double recovery. The association's president, Immaculate Maluza, defended the fees and the legal work. The Malawi Law Society and Parliament were reported to be considering investigations. Regardless of the controversy, the case highlighted the association's willingness to represent women in difficult public-interest claims against state authorities. The association has also contributed to the development and recognition of women in the Malawian legal profession. In 2025, Dr. Bernadette Malunga joined its board and became the inaugural recipient of the Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo Award, created to honor Malawian women lawyers advancing women's rights. A later initiative described in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice involved cooperation with the association on an artificial-intelligence tool intended to improve access to legal remedies. The proposed service would operate in local languages, help users prepare common documents such as protection-order applications, and identify nearby legal assistance. The project reflects a continued effort to address the gap between the need for legal support and the limited number of lawyers available to Malawi's population. The association's overall historical profile is therefore that of a rights-based legal organization combining direct services, strategic litigation, institutional advocacy, and professional development.

• 2025

  Board appointment and professional award

  [1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Dr. Bernadette Malunga joined the board and received the inaugural Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo Award.

• 2021

  Public scrutiny of police-abuse litigation fees

  [1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  The association's representation of 18 women alleging sexual assault by police became the subject of a dispute over donor funding and legal fees.

• 2018

  Petition for greater female representation

  [1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  The organization petitioned the president to increase women's representation in government and pressed for stronger implementation of constitutional gender-equality commitments.

• 2017

  Sarai Chisala-Tempelhoff becomes president

  [1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Sarai Chisala-Tempelhoff assumed the association's presidency during a period of visible advocacy on gender-based violence and legal reform.

• 2017

  Advocacy contributes to HIV-law reform

  [1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  The association supported parliamentary efforts that resulted in the decriminalization of HIV transmission in Malawi.

• 1998

  Organization founded

  [1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  The Women Lawyers Association of Malawi was established as a non-governmental organization promoting the rights of women and children.

A public-interest legal and advocacy organization focused on making justice more accessible to women and children and advancing gender-responsive legal reform.

• Legal services

  Legal aid and representation

  The association provides or arranges legal representation for women and children, particularly in matters involving gender-based violence, sexual abuse, discrimination, and alleged abuse by public authorities. Its work includes representation in litigation and judicial-review proceedings.

• Advocacy

  Rights advocacy and legal reform

  The organization campaigns for changes to laws and public policy affecting women and children. Its documented advocacy has included HIV-related criminal-law reform, stronger responses to gender-based violence, and improved female representation in government.

• Research and education

  Research and public legal education

  Research, public advocacy, and legal-information work support the association's effort to explain rights, identify discriminatory practices, and influence lawmakers and public institutions.

• 2021

  Controversy over fees in police-abuse case

  The association faced accusations of double recovery after representing 18 women alleging sexual assault by police. Reports described donor support for the lawyers and court claims for expenses, prompting the association's president to defend the fees and reports of possible scrutiny by the Malawi Law Society and Parliament.

  Source

Read more

• 201850:50 and cabinet-representation advocacy

  Malawi

  The association petitioned the president to increase women's representation in government and supported the broader 50:50 movement for gender balance in political institutions.

  Source
• 2017Gender-based-violence accountability campaign

  Malawi

  The association joined a Lilongwe protest and submitted a petition demanding stronger action against gender-based violence, including sanctions for public employees responsible for such abuse.

  Source
• 2017HIV-transmission decriminalization advocacy

  Malawi

  The association supported advocacy for repeal of criminal penalties for HIV transmission, arguing that criminalization increased stigma and risked worsening violence against women.

  Outcome. Parliament decriminalized HIV transmission in December 2017.

  Source

• 2025

  Expand professional recognition for women lawyersOther

  Background

  The association sought to recognize Malawian women lawyers contributing to the advancement of women's rights.

  Action taken

  It added Dr. Bernadette Malunga to its board and awarded her the inaugural Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo Award.

  Source

• 2018

  Petition for gender-balanced governmentStrategy

  Background

  The association argued that women were underrepresented in the president's cabinet and invoked section 13 of Malawi's Constitution.

  Action taken

  It petitioned President Peter Mutharika and indicated that it would take further action if the issue remained unresolved.

  Source

• 2017

  Support HIV-law decriminalizationStrategy

  Background

  The association considered criminalization of HIV transmission harmful because it could reinforce stigma and contribute to discrimination and violence against women.

  Action taken

  It joined advocacy supporting the Minister of Health's effort to persuade Parliament to repeal the criminal provision.

  Aftermath

  Parliament decriminalized HIV transmission in December 2017.

  Source

• 2017

  Represent Beatrice Mateyo in judicial reviewOther

  Background

  Mateyo was arrested after participating in a gender-based-violence protest and faced a charge concerning an allegedly offensive placard.

  Action taken

  Lawyers from the association represented her in an application for judicial review.

  Source

• 2025

  Bernadette Malunga joins board and receives inaugural women-lawyers award[1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  Dr. Bernadette Malunga joined the association's board and became the first recipient of the Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo Award for advancing women's rights.

• 2018

  WLA petitions for greater representation of women in government[1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Regulation

  The association petitioned President Peter Mutharika to increase the number of women in government and cited Malawi's constitutional commitment to gender equality.

• 2017

  Women Lawyers Association joins 2017 gender-based-violence protest[1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The association participated in a Lilongwe protest following reports of women being seriously injured or killed in gender-based violence cases. Its president presented a petition seeking stronger accountability for officials involved in such violence.

• 2017

  Association supports HIV-transmission decriminalization[1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Campaign

  The organization supported efforts that led Malawi's Parliament to remove criminal penalties for HIV transmission, arguing that the law increased stigma and could worsen violence and discrimination against women.

• 2017

  WLA represents Beatrice Mateyo in judicial-review application[1]Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit · Other

  Lawyers from the association represented Beatrice Mateyo after police arrested her during a gender-based-violence protest and charged her under an offense concerning insulting the modesty of a woman.

1. 1Women Lawyers Association (Malawi)en.wikipedia.org