Community Development and Social Welfare has called on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to have gender policies for the betterment of their institutions.
The ministry’s chief economist Clement Komwa made the call in Mangochi on Friday during the orientation of the MDAs’ gender focal persons.
“MDAs are important when we talk about gender cross-cutting issues. If we want to end issues such as gender-based or sexual harassment, they need to know, understand and enforce them,” he said.
Komwa further said MDAs are main focal persons in gender mainstreaming. He admitted that lack of resources is frustrating efforts to reach their goal in dealing with gender issues.
Ellen Damson from Mangochi Police Station said they are taking a major role in fighting gender-based violence.
“For example, there are family cases which are brought to police that do not have criminal elements. They are sorted out and families live happily thereafter,” she said.
Amref Health Africa programmes assistant Martha Moyo said her organisation is supporting the Power to Youth Project whose component is to address harmful cultural norms, sexual gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies
