Wolrec for education on gender laws
Women’s Legal Resource Centre (Wolrec) says curbing domestic violence against women needs combined efforts and understanding of its laws.
Project officer for Wolrec Gift Mauluka spoke recently in Zomba during a three-day workshop with service providers on the understanding of gender law, its objectives and applicability with a focus on Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA) and Deceased Estates Wills Inheritance and Protection Act.
She said ignorance of gender laws has led to majority of women and girls being exposed to economic, social, psychological, emotional, physical and sexual abuses.
“The objective of enacting the law was to preserve peace and tranquillity of the family unit by preventing domestic abuse or violence, providing protection to victims and meting out punishments to perpetrators. We urge providers to unite in civic educating the public on this law,” he said.
Domasi Second Grade Magistrate Chrispine Sachuluka asked service providers to encourage women and girls to report abuses to court.
“The court grants protection orders to a complainant against an abuser if the court is convinced the complainant has suffered domestic violence. This is done to provide safety to the complainant as the court investigates the matter,” he said.
