Don’t suffer in silence, GBV victims told
Khosolo Women’s Forum in Mzimba District has urged gender-based violence (GBV) victims to report the vice to authorities instead of suffering in silence.
The forum’s director Joyce Mwale said this on Sunday at Khosolo during a GBV awareness campaign.
The forum also launched the commemoration of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against GBV at community level with funds from ActionAid Malawi.
Mwale said many women fail to report their abusive husbands to police, which is fuelling GBV cases in the district.
She said: “We have noted that most women respect their husbands as breadwinners; hence, they fail to report them when they are abused. This is bad because it has led to the rise of GBV cases in the district.
“As a forum, we will intensify awareness on GBV and conduct a door-to-door campaign to reach out to more women and girls.”
Mwale said they are also working with traditional leaders in the district to eliminate harmful cultural practices that fuel GBV in communities.
Inkosi Khosolo commended the women for civic-educating people on the dangers of GBV and encouraging women and girls to report the vice.
“As we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, I ask my subjects to ensure they protect women and girls from any forms of violence,” he said.
The chief also pledged to engage other traditional leaders to abolish cultural practices that fuel violence against girls and women in the district.
Mary Jere, a community member from Khosolo, said there is need to raise awareness in communities about GBV to empower victims to seek justice.
Mzimba district gender officer Naomi Mwale said GBV cases were still rising in the district, therefore, she called all stakeholders, including traditional leaders to continue championing interventions to eliminate GBV cases.
Malawi joined the rest of the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from November 25 to December 10 2023
