The United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group will examine Malawi’s human rights record for the fourth time on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, in Geneva. The session, which will be webcast live, is part of the UPR Working Group’s 48th session running from 3 to 14 November 2025, during which 14 States will undergo review. Malawi’s previous reviews were held in 2010, 2015, and 2020.
The UPR process involves a comprehensive peer review of all 193 UN Member States’ human rights records. It is based on three key documents: the national report submitted by the State under review, UN reports from independent human rights experts and treaty bodies, and contributions from other stakeholders, including national human rights institutions and civil society organizations.
Malawi’s delegation will be led by Ambassador Caroline C.S. Bwanali-Mussa, the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva. The “troika” of States acting as rapporteurs for Malawi’s review includes Chile, Ethiopia, and Kyrgyzstan. The review provides an opportunity for Malawi to report on actions taken to implement recommendations from its previous UPR cycles and to share updates on recent human rights developments.
The UPR Working Group will adopt its recommendations for Malawi on Friday, 14 November 2025, following deliberations. Malawi will have the chance to respond to and express its position on the recommendations made by other Member States. This process reinforces accountability and encourages continued progress in upholding and promoting human rights within the country.
