Preliminary results of a research by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on children living in alternative homes has revealed that some child care institutions are operating illegally, while others do not meet minimum requirements for children’s social welfare and development.

Speaking to Yoneco online, MHRC Public Relations Officer, Kate Kujaliwa, said the commission has discovered that some child care institutions are in dilapidated state not befitting human residence let alone children.

She further said some homes are also operating without knowledge of the social welfare officers in the respective districts.

Kujaliwa said: “The commission is dismayed to discover that some institutions are operating and admitting children in contrast to the rules and regulations governing child protection and well-being.

“We have also noted that sanitation and hygiene in most homes leaves a lot to be desired and most of these houses are not even supposed to be keeping these children.”

According to Kujaliwa, the monitoring exercise is expected to be concluded by next week when MHRC will make recommendations to the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare and other stakeholders.

The commission is carrying out the research in all the districts across the country with assistance from the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).