Nkhotakota Police hold GBV orientation

Following the rise in gender-based violence (GBV) cases in Nkhotakota District, Nkhotakota Police Station through its Community Policing and Rural Police Units Branch recently organised an orientation meeting at Senior Chief Malengachanzi in the district.

The meeting held in conjunction with the district social welfare office, oriented 25 members from Malengachanzi and Chotha GBV committees, among them eight females and 17 males.

The orientation was facilitated by Janet Thaulo from Nkhotakota Police Station and Octovia Phiri from the district social welfare office.

Thaulo, who is Nkhotakota Police Station Victim Support Unit coordinator, said the meeting was organised to equip the GBV committees with knowledge on gender-based violence, its forms and effects on the victims.

She said the meeting also aimed at encouraging participants to take an active role in the fight against GBV in their localities.

“The orientation meeting is crucial to the participants as it has informed them their roles and techniques to be followed in handling gender-based violence cases at grass root level.

We have also sensitised them on procedures to follow when gender based violence occurs, is recurring and where there is possibility that it might re-occur,’’ said Thaulo.

In her remarks, Phiri said the meeting was important as it also tackled the aspects of child protection and roles of community members to curb violations of rights, especially those of children and women.

The committees requested for bicycles to assist in mobility issues.—Malawi Police Service