Hope for Relief Malawi, a local youth-led non-governmental organisation, says it is committed in ensuring that women are protected from gender based violence by bringing such cases to courts within communities.

This comes as the organisation is implementing a project aimed at reducing cases of gender based violence that have piled up at Chitipa district court with support from United Nations (UN) Women.

Speaking to YFM, Executive Director for the organisation Richard Mwanjasi said they have introduced mobile courts in the district to enable survivors access justice easily especially in the area of Senior chief Kameme.

“It is extremely difficult for survivors to access justice because of long distance from this area to Chitipa where the court is, imagine spending a poor Malawian spending K5, 000 for transport to access justice,” said Mwanjasi.

Commenting on the same, Chitipa District Council Gender Development Officer James Gubudu hailed the initiative as many cases in the area die naturally due to the long distance.

A total of 124 cases of gender based violence and 11 child marriages are expected to be heard in this initiative with support from United Nations- UN Women which Hope for Relief will implement in the district for 15 months.