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The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) is a non profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organisation founded in 1995 under the Trustees Incorporation Act of 1962 whose mandate is to promote, protect and consolidate good governance in Malawi. The organisation has eleven – member board of trustees who are of high standing in the society drawn from disciplines such as law, education, political science, business and academics. The board makes the policy while the secretariat, which is headed by the Executive Director, runs the day – to – day activities.

The organization strives to promote equity and equality among the people regardless of gender, race, religion, language and skin colour by taking full recognition of the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1945) to which Malawi is a signatory. It is thus imperative to say that in order to embrace the democratic values that call for the upholding of human rights, CHRR engages in continuous community mobilization to raise awareness on critical human rights issues of men, women, boys and girls.

CHRR has implemented a number of activities since its inception, which include the following among others:

• Civic education to the general public on democracy, human rights and good governance including civic and voter education during 1999 and 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary and Local Government Elections respectively.
• Awareness creation on Community safety and empowerment, and Constitutional Rights
• Training in democracy and human rights cross cutting the academic realm – professions in media and arts, teachers, and public officials.
• Production of public awareness materials and Newsletters (Kamba newsletter and Democracy Forum Magazine).
• Advocacy and lobbying for policy and legal reform.
• Conducted and produced research reports in various topics around Human rights and governance Issues.
• Networking with both local and international organization through participation in various forums and joint program. At local level, CHRR has been involved in networking through the Human Rights Consultative Committee, Church /NGO consortium, Prison Advisory Services. At International Level, CHRR has worked closely with Southern Africa Human Rights Trust, African Commission on Human and peoples Rights, Amnesty International among others.

Vision
A vibrant Malawi culture which embraces the values of democracy and human rights

Mission
To contribute towards the protection, promotion and consolidation of good governance by empowering rural and urban communities in Malawi to be aware of and exercise their rights through research, advocacy and net-working in order to realise human development

CHRR seeks to contribute towards the realization of this vision through programmes carried out under five core activities, namely: Public Awareness and Community Empowerment, Civic and Human Rights Education, Training and Research; Advocacy, Capacity Building, and Net-working.

Core Values
•  Respect for Human Rights
•  Equality
•  Impartiality

Objectives

CHRR strives to achieve the following objectives:
•  To empower rural and urban communities on issues of democracy, good governance, and citizens' rights, roles and responsibilities
•  To mobilize marginalised communities and increase their voice on public policy
•  To enhance communities' capacity to realise as well as define issues relating to community safety
•  To conduct research on specific human rights as well as publicise policy issues and disseminate findings thereon
•  To monitor, investigate and document issues of human rights infringement, with particular regard to violations of the same
•  To provide training to professional and special groups in communities relating to democracy, good governance and human rights
•  To lobby and advocate for necessary policies and legal reforms
•  To net-work with other organisations espousing similar values and objectives at national, regional, and international levels
•  To enhance CHRR's organisational capacity for effective and efficient programme delivery