Renowned child rights activist Esmie Tembenu has lamented the ignorance of a large number of Malawians in the rural areas about child protection laws.

Tembenu was commenting on the police records of defilement which indicate that 64 cases have been registered between January and September this year compared to 49 which were recorded last year.

She suggested that the challenge could be due to lack of knowledge on child related laws among the country’s huge population.

Tembenu said the challenge is a major contributing factor to the increase in cases of child defilement and abuse in the country.

She therefore called on duty bearers including government and stakeholders to prioritize sensitization of the laws in particular the Child Care Justice and Protection Act and ensure it is well translated for easy understanding of various groups of people in the country.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social welfare, Patricia Kaliati, said the influx in the defilement reports is because people are now aware and opening up on such vices.

She however assured the public that her ministry will work tirelessly to ensure that people in the country are well aware of the existing laws and abide by them.