Nyale Institute for Sexual and Reproductive Health Governance has called on authorities to review Malawi’s legal framework governing reproductive healthcare, including access to safe abortion services.

The institute’s Programme Lawyer, Ireen Mathanga, made the call after the organization began providing legal representation to a 41-year-old woman, Macleana Davis, who was arrested in Nkhata Bay in May 2026 for allegedly assisting a 15-year-old girl to procure an illegal abortion.

Speaking to YFM Online, Mathanga said the case has exposed critical issues surrounding Malawi’s current abortion laws and prompted the institute’s intervention.

Davis was convicted by the Nkhata Bay Magistrate’s Court, and both the defence and the state presented their mitigation submissions on Wednesday. The court has since adjourned the matter to July 1, 2026, when sentencing is expected to take place.

Mathanga said Nyale Institute stepped in to facilitate legal representation for Davis during the sentencing phase after she underwent the trial process without legal counsel.

According to the institute, the case highlights the need for broader national discussions on reproductive health rights and the legal framework governing abortion in Malawi.