BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-A coalition of faith-based organizations, the Religious Leaders Network for Choice, has hailed a recent High Court ruling allowing minors who are victims of sexual assault to access safe abortion services.
The October 2025 ruling acknowledges the severe psychological trauma faced by young girls forced to carry pregnancies resulting from rape, incest, or defilement.
Cliff Nyekanyeka, the organization’s national coordinator, emphasized that the ruling aligns with faith traditions that accept abortion on therapeutic, eugenic, rape, and incest grounds.
“This ruling represents a compassionate approach to protecting vulnerable individuals,” Nyekanyeka said.
Mateyu Sisya, legal advisor for the network, has urged the Attorney General to push for swift implementation of the ruling and advocate for new policies supporting sexual assault victims.
The organization stresses that the court’s decision doesn’t contradict religious principles but rather prioritizes the well-being of those affected.
The ruling has sparked intense debate, with some religious leaders warning against what they see as a potential erosion of Malawi’s moral values.
The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops, Malawi Council of Churches, Evangelical Association of Malawi, and Muslim Association of Malawi have expressed concerns, stating that “life begins at conception and must be protected”
