Mchinji Police Station has awarded a certificate of recognition to Youth Net and Counselling – YONECO for ensuring protection of the rights of youth, women and children.

Speaking with YFM after the ceremony, YONECO District Manager for Mchinji, Hughes Munthali, said the development is a result of its commitment and various interventions aimed at protecting women and children from all forms of abuse.

“This is indeed a great honor to us an organization and I believe it is because of our commitment and dedication to protecting the rights of the vulnerable groups of youth, women and children,” he said.

“This also comes at a time when we facilitated the arrest and conviction of a certain 72-year-old man who defiled a young girl in the district, and we witnessed the court slapping him with 8 years to imprisonment with hard labour.

Munthali further applauded community members for gaining confidence in reporting abuse cases, which he said has led to a decrease in the vice.

“It is very pleasing to learn that the communities and our partners have confidence in us and this drives us to really work hard. The communities are also playing great role by reporting any forms of abuse they witness and this has helped to reduce such cases in the district,” Munthali said.