By Lauryn M’banga

First Lady Monica Chakwera on Monday called for collaborative efforts in the fight against gender-based violence.

Chakwera made the remarks when she presided over the launch of this year’s 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign, at Mposa Community Day Secondary School in Phalombe district.

“Here in Malawi, many women and girls face violence through harmful traditional practices such as sexual initiation rituals, child marriages and abuses by intimate partners,” said Chakwera.

She also emphasized on the need to educate the girl child as one way of eliminating violence and abuse.

On her part, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza expressed the need for the citizenry to acknowledge abuse and fight against it.

This year’s campaign is being commemorated under the theme “Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls in Malawi: Towards Beijing +30” and will run from November 25 to December 10, 2024.