By Lucy Ng’andu
Authorities have called upon everyone to be an activist in preventing gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women and girls.
Minister responsible for Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati made the call yesterday in Parliament when delivering a ministerial statement on commemoration this year’s 16 Days of Activism.
She said: “Let me call upon all Malawians to join the government, stakeholders and the international community in observing the 16 days. This can be done by taking part in the activities, sharing information and messages on evils of GBV with their families and friends.
“Creating awareness on GBV and laws that promote and protect women and children’s rights and reporting any form of violence to relevant structures at all levels.”
Kaliati told the lawmakers that GBV cases are rising every month despite several efforts by government and other stakeholders.
She said from January to September 2022, the Malawi Police Service Victim Support Unit recorded 2,176 GBV cases more in 2022 from 13,002 in 2021 to 15, 178 GBV in 2022 recorded during the same period. The breakdown of these cases is as follows:
Kaliati added that empowering girls and women has proved to be one effective way of reducing cases of GBV.
“Commemoration of these days brings out the importance of acknowledging, promoting and protecting women’s and girls’ rights to advance the national development agenda. Meaningful development cannot take place without 52 percent of the population.
“The campaign, therefore, is undertaken to raise awareness regarding violence against women, strengthen national and community engagement as well as provide a forum for dialogue and strategy-sharing for responding and preventing gender based-violence,” added Kaliati.
Commemoration of this year’s 16 Days of Activism will commence this coming Friday and run up to 10 of December 2022 under the theme: “Unite! Activism to End Gender Based Violence in Malawi”.
Since 2000, Malawi has been joining the international community in commemorating 16 Days of Activism against GBV.
During this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign, Government and its stakeholders will be conducting various activities to create awareness on evils of GBV and how can stakeholders address the vice. Some of the activities will involve raising awareness as well mobilizing joint action to end GBV at national, district and community levels.
The 2022 16 Days of Activism campaign will be launched on November 25, 2022, at Linthipe Secondary School Ground Traditional Authority Kaphuka, in Dedza District.
