A consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have intensified the fight against gender-based violence in Dedza District.
The NGOs, comprising Women’s Legal Resource Centre (Wolrec), Girls Empowerment Network (Genet) and Human Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities (WAG), are working to come up with strategies to enhance the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Speaking on Saturday during a meeting to discuss the strategies, NGO-Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) gender-related laws permanent committee chairperson Caroline Mvalo emphasised the need to review the 2006 Domestic Violence Act to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to current challenges.
“Essentially, we are looking at the advocacy part of it. This act provides for tenancy order, protection order as well as occupation order which go a long way in protecting women and men, boys and girls from gender-based violence,” she said.
Mvalo, whose organisation was part of the meeting, said participants learned about key gender-related laws in Malawi to strengthen their understanding of legal frameworks that protect women and girls.
She further said in terms of advocacy, they noted some gaps within the law and their convergence was to see how best they would advocate for the review and implementation of the provisions in the Act.
WAG executive director Stella Nkhonya expressed concern with the rise in cases of intimate partner violence in Malawi.
“It is disheartening to see many cases of violence within relationships; hence, meeting to discuss strategies on how to address the issues,” she said.
The UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supported the meeting.
