The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) participated in the 2nd Meeting of the Core Advisory Group (CAG) on Civic Space held in Lilongwe, Malawi on 28 May 2026, reaffirming its commitment to supporting democratic governance, constitutionalism, judicial independence, and the protection of civic space in Africa.
AJJF participates in the mechanism as an Observer Member of Malawi’s Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Civic Space, a national coordination platform established to drive implementation of the historic Lilongwe Civic Space Pact. The Pact was adopted following the 2024 Malawi Civic Space Dialogue convened under the stewardship of the Malawi Judiciary, Youth and Society (YAS), and AJJF, bringing together representatives of the Executive, Judiciary, Parliament, civil society, media, legal profession, and international partners.
According to the Terms of Reference of the Working Group, the mechanism serves as the central coordinating body for dialogue, cooperation, monitoring, and implementation of commitments relating to civic space, democratic participation, institutional independence, transparency, and human rights protection in Malawi. The platform brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders including the Malawi Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Justice, Judiciary, Parliament, Law Society, media bodies, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth movements, and development partners, with AJJF participating as an international observer on rule of law and democratic governance issues.
The May 2026 meeting considered several important civic space developments and institutional processes, including the adoption of the Group’s Terms of Reference and Work Plan, developments affecting NGO regulation, Malawi’s Universal Periodic Review processes, and emerging regional and continental human rights standards.
AJJF contributed to discussions through a presentation on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights draft Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, highlighting the growing importance of regional standards aimed at safeguarding civic participation, constitutional accountability, and the role of human rights defenders across the continent.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that constructive engagement between state institutions, independent constitutional bodies, the judiciary, civil society, and international partners is essential to sustaining open democratic space and strengthening public trust in governance institutions. The Working Group also seeks to support the development of a National Action Plan on Civic Space and foster ongoing dialogue on emerging governance and human rights issues in Malawi.
AJJF welcomed the continued institutional collaboration taking place under the Civic Space Pact framework and reiterated the importance of dialogue-based approaches that strengthen constitutional democracy, accountability, human rights, and peaceful civic participation across Africa.
As a continental platform of judges, jurists, and rule of law actors, AJJF remains committed to supporting African-led initiatives that promote independent institutions, democratic governance, and inclusive civic engagement grounded in constitutional values and the rule of law.