The First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera has called for the need to take men and boys as allies in the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in a bid to end GBV and realize gender equality in the country.

Madame Chakwera made the remarks in Lilongwe on Wednesday during a High-Level Advocacy meeting on Positive Masculinity for traditional and religious leaders from Mzimba District.

She said despite a majority of women and girls experiencing violence which is perpetrated by men and boys, a majority of them have goodwill towards women.

She said: “It is important to highlight the role of male traditional and religious leaders in ensuring that they shape the future in a direction towards progress and inclusive wealth.”

However, she expressed worry that some social development indicators are still negative for women and girls in Mzimba District among others with some social indicators within the district being dismal across the gender divide.

On her part, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati echoed Madame Chakwera”s words saying men and boys are crucial in the fight against GBV as such they should be taken as partners.

She said GBV has led to low women participation and engagement in decision making positions especially politics.

Kaliati went on to appeal with law enforcement agencies to hold hands with other stakeholders by speeding up cases in order to arrest the situation.