Malawi has launched the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence campaign with a call to victims to report gender based violence cases.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is a time to spur action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

This year’s campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 under a global theme; ‘End Gender Based Violence in the World of Work’.

However in Malawi the campaign runs under the theme; ‘End Gender Based Violence in the World of Work and Tertiary Institutions’.

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Cecelia Chazama said 96 percent of victims in tertiary institutions do not report gender based violence cases.

“The silence has been huge that you find that 96 percent of those, they have not reported,” She said during the launch of the campaign in Blantyre on Friday.

Chazama also encouraged people in managerial positions to treat victims of gender based violence with respect.

“We want those victims to come in the open,” She said.

Chazama added that the ministry has put in place a National Response Team in order to ensure that the victims are receiving adequate assistance.

“Whether they report at the police or at a health institution proper mechanisms have been put in place by my ministry to assist victims.”