Ministry impressed with law review progress
Ministry of Gender has expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the review of Gender Equality Act and Childcare Protection and Justice Act reforms, saying they will breathe a new life on protecting children.
Deputy director for gender mainstreaming Ronald Phiri said this in Mponela, Dowa on Tuesday at the end of the second review meeting of the Acts. “We are making progress. Some child related laws are not talking the same language.
We need to align them for the benefit of fighting women and children abuse,” he said. Phiri said the earlier meeting pointed discrepancies in the laws that need change while the Mponela one finalised the work and made recommendations. According to him, the next chapter is to invite directors and later principal secretaries for their input.
“It will then be taken to Cabinet for scrutiny and later to Parliament. Our aim is to ensure that by next year, the changes should take effect,” said Phiri. The task force comprised people from the Ministries of Gender and Justice, Office of the President and Cabinet, Law Commission, police, civil society and media. They were sponsored by Amref Africa under Power to Youth (PTY) programme. Amref Africa advocacy officer Twambilire Mwabungulu said they decided to fund the meeting because what was being discussed was in line with PTY agenda.
“One of PTY’s objectives is to deal with issues concerning the youth. The changes that will be made in the country’s laws will benefit them,” he said.
