Abolish third party rule—Wlsa

The corroboration rule-which makes it mandatory for rape and defilement victims to bring third party evidence to court is discriminatory to women and should be abolished, Women in Law in Southern Africa (Wlsa) Malawi has said.

Speaking on Tuesday in Blantyre during a news conference, Wlsa Malawi national coordinator Mzati Mbeko said a girl or a woman in Malawi, who is raped, cannot report the attack because she must corroborate the rape by providing medical evidence or a third party witness to the attack.

As part of pushing to abolish the rule, three rape survivors, working together with Wlsa, are today filing a claim against the corroboration rule before the High Court to certify it as a constitutional issue needing a review.

Coincidentally, today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and also the beginning of the 16 Days of Gender Activism. n