10-11 November, The Grand Palace, Mzuzu, Malawi
Conference Overview
Dates: 10–11 November 2026
Registration has now closed. We look forward to welcoming registered delegates to Mzuzu!
Missed the deadline? For late registration inquiries or press/media access, please contact the organising team.
Location: The Grand Palace Hotel, Mzuzu, Malawi
Host institutions: University of Livingstonia & INAWARA
Expected delegation: 50+ presenters, researchers, survivor-advocates, traditional leaders, faith leaders, and policymakers across 10+ countries
About the Conference
On 12 July 2021, the UN Human Rights Council adopted landmark Resolution 47/8, committing member states to eliminate harmful practices linked to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks.
In November 2026, INAWARA and the University of Livingstonia will convene the third international conference on witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks with a focus on putting Resolution 47/8 into practice on the ground. Hosted at The Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu, Malawi, this two-day gathering brings together frontline practitioners, scholars, community leaders and survivor-advocates to bridge the gap between global human rights frameworks and local realities.
The conference prioritises voices and lived experiences from affected communities, with a special focus on protecting groups disproportionately targeted by these harmful practices, including women, older persons, children, persons with albinism and persons with disabilities.
Conference Program
A final conference program is now available to give you an overview of the sessions and speakers planned for the event.
Download the conference book of abstracts to read speakers’ presentation details and bios.
Core Thematic Tracks
Implementation of UN Resolution 47/8: Aligning international human rights frameworks with national legal systems, law enforcement responses and customary legal frameworks.
Legal pluralism & customary governance: Working alongside traditional, customary and community authorities to transform harmful practices while respecting cultural contexts.
Frontline protection & gender justice: Developing actionable safeguarding protocols for survivor protection, emergency shelter and legal advocacy for vulnerable groups.
Cross-sectoral partnerships: Building practical alliances between academic research, grassroots advocacy, legal defence networks and faith-based peacebuilding.
Actionable Deliverable: The Mzuzu Statement
In addition to academic discussion, this is a working conference designed to produce tangible outcomes. The program will open with an official Survivor Address and conclude with the drafting and adoption of the Mzuzu Statement of Practical Commitments, a concrete framework of implementation strategies that delegates will take home to more than 20 countries to drive implementation of Resolution 47/8 at local and national levels.
Presenter’s Hub
Slides and chair connection
Please ensure PowerPoint presentations are in both PowerPoint and PDF formats.
Upload your slides using a USB at the conference venue before your session or email them to Mary Sibande to ensure a seamless transition between the sessions.
Please ensure you meet your session chair before the session.
Contact & accessibility support
If you require special assistance during the conference, such as accessibility, dietary or emergency support, please contact Mary Sibande.
Social media / community hashtag
Please remember to tag posts or photos of the conference to help raise awareness of our event. Suggested tags include #Mzuzu2026; #INAWARA2026; #MzuzuStatement; #UNResolution478; #EndHarmfulPractices, etc.
Travel, Accommodation & Airport Logistics
Conference venue & hotel: The Grand Palace Hotel, Mzuzu.
Included accommodation: Your registration covers accommodation include 3 nights total (checkout is the morning of 12 November 2026). (Local attendees are not included in accommodation.)
Airport transfers (Lilongwe - LLW): Complimentary airport transfers between Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe (LLW) and Mzuzu are provided for International, Global South, Postgraduate and Non-Profit delegates.
Arrival shuttles: Two scheduled shuttles will run from LLW airport timed around major flight arrivals (mid-afternoon and very early evening) on 9 November. If you cannot make these times, then we recommend you fly in the day before as we cannot be responsible for overnight accommodation.
Return shuttle: A coordinated group transfer will depart Mzuzu at 6am for LLW airport on the morning of 12 November 2026.
Coordinated transfer details sent directly to registered delegates. If you have any concerns, please contact Mary Sibande.
Important travel time lead: The drive between Mzuzu and Lilongwe (LLW) is ~5 hours. Combined with the 3-hour international flight check-in requirement, delegates require an 8-hour total lead time before flight departure times.
Visas: Visa information and online processing are available via evisa.gov.mw. Official visa support letters from the University of Livingstonia are provided upon registration.
Call for Delegate Sponsorship
Many of our core presenters are early-career scholars, community workers and survivor-advocates from low-income communities who cannot attend without financial support.
Support a frontline advocate’s attendance (USD $335): Fully covers registration, accommodation, transfers, and catering for one frontline practitioner or survivor-advocate.
Institutional sponsorship (USD $1,500 – $6,000): Packages are available for grant-making bodies, universities, and non-profits seeking session hosting or lead partner branding rights.
For more information, please see our Call for Sponsorship, and consider helping make the conference accessible to those who might otherwise be unable to attend.
Media & Press Inquiries
We welcome press and media engagement to help amplify the outcomes of the conference and the implementation of UN Resolution 47/8.
Press accreditation: For journalists, documentary makers and media representatives seeking access or interviews, please contact our team at [Email].
Interview requests: We can coordinate interviews with key conference organisers from INAWARA, keynote speakers, academics, frontline survivor-advocates and international experts.
Media releases & updates: To receive our official press releases, and the finalised Mzuzu Statement of Practical Commitments upon its adoption, please email us to be added to the media distribution list.
For media inquiries, please reach out directly to:
📞 TBC
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