Authorities have reiterated on the need to seriously involve men if Malawi is to make progress in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
The call follows the ongoing commemoration of 16 days of activism which is being observed under the theme: “Unite! Activism to End Gender Based Violence in Malawi”.
Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati said men need to be engaged at all levels so that they are solutions to the current challenge.
She said: “The engagement of men is paramount which we are continuously having it that men they are supposed to be engaged whether through clubs, religious gatherings or one-to-one.
“These men might be speaking out and see how best we are to support each other.”
The Minister says government through the Malawi Police Service, Ministries of Justice, Health and my Ministry is offering protection, psychosocial support and legal services to survivors of GBV.
She earlier to Parliament last week that all survivors of violence are encouraged to seek support from these professionals to ensure they are helped with accordingly.
Kaliati added that government through her ministry has already started incorporating men in various social-economic structures.
“We have the Social Cash Transfer Programme where we involve men as well to be part and parcel of the changes we are talking about, and all these are going to help us,” she disclosed.
From January to September 2022, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) Victim Support Unit (VSU) recorded 2, 176 GBV cases more in 2022 from 13, 002 in 2021 to 15, 178 GBV in 2022 recorded during the same period.
