The Vice President of Malawi Saulosi Chilima vowed that the government will continue working to eliminate violence against women and girls during the launch of the End Violence against Women and Girls campaign, organised by Oxfam Malawi in Lilongwe
The Vice President of Malawi Saulosi Chilima vowed that the government will continue working to eliminate violence against women and girls during the launch of the End Violence against Women and Girls campaign, organised by Oxfam Malawi in Lilongwe.
He said the government would implement legal and strategic frameworks on gender-based violence related laws in all sectors and ensure improved access to justice and services such as mobile courts and one stop health centres.
Chilima said all forms of violence against women and girls needed to be eliminate, including trafficking, sexual abuse and other forms of discrimination and exploitation.
Quality services would help in the mitigation of violence, he said.
He pointed to recent statistics that showed 42% of Malawian women have experienced a form of sexual or physical violence, and that 1 in 2 girls are married before age 18.
Chilima thanked civil society organisations, such as Oxfam, for supporting government efforts to end gender-based violence and achieve its development goals, and encouraged the economic empowerment of women across all sectors.
Jean Kalirani, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, also spoke at the launch, saying that Malawi’s government had improved police resources and capability in handling reported cases of gender-based violence with the provision of victim support units.
She also pointed to the government’s cooperation with non-governmental organisations, faith communities, traditional leaders and the media to end cultural practices harmful to women and girls.
Oxfam Country Director for Malawi John Makina urged communities to report perpetrators of gender-based violence and to support the Oxfam campaign, which was launched in response to increased reports of violent incidences against women and girls, both in Malawi and globally.
