GBV activism starts today, let’s join forces

Countrymen and women, Malawi today joins the international community in marking 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) and the prevention or elimination of violence against women and girls.

Led by the United Nations (UN), different civil society organisations (CSOs) use this month to steer this campaign to increase awareness on ending the vice mostly perpetrated by the men folk.

According to the UN, violence against women is one of the most universal breaches of human rights worldwide no wonder some brave women and feminists recently pulled up their sleeves to defend women’s rights through campaigns such as the #MeToo movement that shook countries and prompted some governments to urgently respond to attacks against women and girls.

November 2023 is not just a key milestone in raising awareness against violence against women and girls, but it will also remind Malawians against violating human rights for women and girls as enshrined in various human rights protocols under the UN, African Union and the Southern African Development Community.

But having started observing this campaign in 2001 has Malawi made significant strides to address this vice through both public and private initiatives designed to raise awareness, influence behavioural change and lobby for political commitment to end gender violence.

Certainly, this year’s commemoration comes when the GBV scale, including premeditated sexual violence against minors and infants, continues to hit alarming levels in Malawi.

We can agree that almost every day we hear and read very shocking stories in the media of some irrational adults that rape and molest women and children as if they are possessed by demons or suffer from strange psychics. In the past two weeks alone, I have personally come across many such stories from police in both traditional and social media.

As if this is not enough, the country is also recording many cases of parents engaging in incest, especially fathers (probably following recommendations from some self-acclaimed sangomas) that they will get rich.

With rising cases of HIV and Aids, these acts have increased the risk of spreading the virus and other sexually transmitted infections to minors who still have piles and piles of tomorrows to live, not to mention inconvenient pregnancies and psychological trauma.

This is why I think all Malawians should join hands to enhance efforts by the government and civil society organisations (CSOs) in fighting against violence against women and girls (including children), which remain on the rise in our homes, schools and even churches. Unfortunately, most of the cases go unreported as victims fear reprisals from perpetrators.

Despite all this, however, it is encouraging to note that Malawi, through the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice, various government agencies and CSOs as well as the UN are tirelessly strengthening local action to reduce GBV cases.

Therefore, as we prepare for this year’s 16 days of the elimination of GBV, I urge all men to participate in the 2022 campaign because often we perpetrate this vice, especially in our homes or within the confines of the bedroom. Creating more awareness among men of the negative effects of violence is thus a key step towards developing a safer society.

Power or masculinity should never justify monstrous acts by loose and weak men against vulnerable women and children in our communities.

I also urge all patriotic citizens to continue collaborating and safeguarding various local, regional and international frameworks that tackle GBV and all forms of violence against our women, girls and children in general.

I say this fully aware that we also have mature men within our communities who have previously fallen victim to GBV and they reported their experiences to police and other relevant agencies. Kudos to you too because that is not cowardice at all and it does not in any way suggest that you are spineless!

GBV silently shutters all hopes and aspirations for better lives among victims and we can build a stronger country together by ending the vice, especially against innocent children.