The Centre for Civil Society Strengthening (CCSS) has called on youth,
women, and civil society organizations (CSOs) in Nkhotakota District to take
the lead in defending civic space and addressing pressing human rights issues
in their communities.
The call was made on Wednesday by CCSS Project Officer
Sinya Msiska at the close of a two-day engagement meeting with Human Rights
Defenders (HRDs).
Msiska urged participants to step up, identify local
civic space violations, and champion advocacy efforts to bring about meaningful
change.
“As Human Rights Defenders, we represent the people in our communities,” Msisya said. “We must prioritize the issues that matter most to local residents and the nation at large.”
During the meeting, participants highlighted several
critical challenges plaguing the district, including delayed justice, poor
enforcement of local bylaws, and systemic factors driving early marriages and
teenage pregnancies.
Expressing appreciation for the initiative, Nkhotakota District Youth-Friendly Coordinator, Jossein Chizala, who represented the District Youth Officer, commended the engagement for uniting diverse local stakeholders around shared concerns.
“I commend CCSS for bringing stakeholders together, particularly the youth, to discuss the key challenges facing our district,” Chizala said. “I am confident that the issues raised here will be pushed further to the relevant authorities to ensure concrete action is taken.”
The meeting was organized under the Connect, Defend, Act! project,
which CCSS is implementing in Nkhotakota and Mangochi districts with funding
from NORAD through Hivos.
