Napham trains chiefs, police, judiciary on GBV

In attempt to reduce gender based violence (GBV) among the couples in Ntchisi, National Association of People living with HIV and Aids in Malawi (Napham) is training chiefs, police and magistrates on how to prevent gender based violence (GBV) and its effects.

Napham district coordinator for Ntchisi, Auleria Kadyampakeni, said they were greatly concerned with reports that many women in the area, specifically in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chilooko’s area, were facing abuses.

According to Kadyampakeni, the targeted groups were considered influential if any change was to be achieved.

“We are aiming at contributing towards enhancement of women’s rights with a specific focus on the rights of people living with HIV and democratic governance. We would like also to raise awareness and document women’s rights violations associated with HIV and Aids in line with national policies,” said Kadyampakeni.

According to her, the project will also enhance capacity of the police’s Victim Support Unit, the judiciary and local structures on how to address and document cases of women’s rights violations related to stigma and discrimination in Malawi by 2015.

With financial assistance from the European Union (EU), the two-year-project, called positive voices against gender based violence in Malawi, is also being implemented in Salima, Dowa and Nkhotakota with Journalists Association Against Aids (Journ Aids) as a collaborating partner.