BRIEFS
Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare says it is reviewing the National Plan of Action which expired in 2021 to enhance the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
The ministry’s principal gender and development officer Japhet Chirwa said this on Friday in Liwonde, Machinga during the National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and GBV Symposium organised by the Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (Cyece) under its Prevention of GBV in Rural Areas Project funded by the Family Federation of Finland.
| Haneeph Maulan
He said the review will help strengthen national efforts to fight and eradicate violence.
The five-year Cyece project, implemented in Traditional Authority (T/A) Liwonde in Machinga, has focused on empowering girls, women, boys and men to prevent and report GBV.
Cyece SRHR programmes officer Sandra Kamwendo said the programme has helped break silence around sexual violations.
“The project empowered women to know their sexual rights and created platforms where survivors could report cases,” she said.
Standard Eight learner Tawina Chithekere of Ntapwa Primary School said the project saved her from a forced relationship.
“My guardian used to force me into premarital sex because they believed I had no future in school,” she said.
T/A Liwonde Community Victim Support Unit chairperson Rose Chilenge said the initiative has changed community attitudes towards women’s health rights.
“Women are now enjoying their sexual rights because the programme empowered them not to tolerate abuse,” she said.
On her part, Laura Lipsanen, adviser of Development Cooperation at Väestöliitto, commended Malawi’s stakeholders for strengthening networks and making tangible progress in addressing SRHR challenges.
“We hope for another phase to continue advocacy and strengthen the message,” she said.
Machinga District Council chairperson Steven Mkwatula commended government and partners for prioritising sexual rights of girls and women
