WOLREC ED cherishes Human Rights Defender Award
- Wolrec
- Dec 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) Executive Director Maggie Kathewera Banda has described the Human Rights Defender Award she received last week as an affirmation of her long-standing commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls.
Kathewera Banda was honoured during a dinner in Mzuzu, organised by the Youth and Society (YAS) and its partners as part of the 2025 International Human Rights Defenders Day celebrations.
Kathewera Banda, the current Chairperson of the NGO Gender Coordination Network said she was deeply humbled and amazed with the recognition.
“I was outside Malawi when the news came that I had won the 2025 Human Rights Defender Award. I felt completely amazed and deeply honoured. I never dreamt that I would receive such a prestigious award," she said.
She dedicated the award to all women and girls "whom I stand for and continue to advocate for. The women and girls who have refused to remain silent, and to all human rights defenders who have made it their life mission to fight for the rights of women, girls, and all people, regardless of gender."
Kathewera Banda expressed gratitude to the organisers for the initiative saying the award legitimises and affirms her work.
“This recognition strengthens my commitment to continue promoting and defending human rights for women and girls. It motivates me to keep working towards justice, equality, and dignity for all,” she added.
The WOLREC ED, further acknowledged the unwavering support of her family, her colleagues at WOLREC, and the NGO GCN, as well as donor partners whose continued support, she said, enables the effective delivery of her work.
During the awards, Sylvester Namiwa of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development was the runner-up.
On August 28, WOLREC was awarded the "Best NGO in Community Empowerment" by the Malawi Government through the Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority (NGORA) during the NGO Day Award Ceremony.
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