Women Lawyers Association has attributed rampant gender-based violence (GBV) cases to poverty and illiteracy levels in rural communities.
To address the vice, including child marriages, the women lawyers on Monday conducted a legal awareness clinic at Kapiri Primary School in Traditional Authority Kachindamoto in Dedza District.
During the event, the association’s executive director Golda Rapozo said they receive at least 150 complaints related to GBV monthly through their toll-free line 3081.
“The high rates of poverty are a big factor when it comes to child marriages and gender-based violence, and also because you cannot afford school fees, a girl is forced into marriage,” she said.
Rapozo also said the association offers assistance through legal advice and assistance by representing their clients who are mostly
women and children.
In her remarks, Senior Chief Kachindamoto commend the women lawyers for reminding people about the negative impact of GBV and child marriages.
She said her consistent meetings with her subordinates have helped to reduce GBV prevalence rate in the area.
The Senior Chief said she has since dethroned eight local leaders who tolerated child marriages.
“We thank Women Lawyers Association for conducting a legal clinic here. People should know where to lodge their complaints in relation to child marriages and gender-based violence,” said Kachindamoto.
One of the women who attended the legal clinic, Agnes Petulo, said they did not know how and where to report GBV.
“Going forward, we will take advantage of the toll-free line that the association has provided to report our complaints,” she said.
During the clinic, the women lawyers engaged individuals on one-on-one sessions to hear the challenges they were facing in relation to GBV and child marriages
