Mw Gender Campaigners Targets 15% Reduction Of Sexual Violence by 2017

Players in Gender Sector in Malawi have jointly launched a three year campaign initiative to end sexual violence against women girls and children ‘Malawi Unite to Act Campaign’ which its main goal is to reduce the current rate at 25% by 15%.

The new campaign has been launched on Tuesday in Lilongwe and will run up to 2017 where it is set to invigorate people and institutions in Malawi to unite and act until women and girls in the country are safe and free from violence.

Malawi Unite to Act Campaign comes after players in Gender sector realized that Ending Gender Violence Campaign covering forms of gender violence in general never addressed sexual violence which is common and is on the increase.           

ActionAid which is a secretariat for coordination of this campaign says this campaign will help women, girls and children to effectively participate in national developments and end obstacle to reaching many development goals in Malawi.

“This campaign has been informed by the work that ActionAid and so many other organizations are dong in Malawi. For a very long time we have been talking about Ending Gender based Violence but within that campaign we have noted that there is a particular violence that is very common and we have not talked about it and this is sexual violence” said ActionAid Executive Director Martha Khonje

She said having looked at prevalence rate which is at 25% of sexual violence all key players in Gender Sector thought this is time to act want to invigorate the campaign until the rate gets to zero, but said for a start in the three year period the goal of this campaign is to reduce the rate by 15%

Khonje said this is possible considering the common agenda to bring to an end this problem as girls themselves are tired, men have pledged support to end the problem, and that government commitment in this problem brings hope.

When launching the campaign Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati encouraged every Malawian to take part in ending sexual violence, whether at workplaces, school, home or any other place.

She also encouraged friendships between parents and children so that parents are aware of problems faced by their children particularly on any form of violence.

In the same vein Kaliati has also urged couples openness on issues of sex so to prevent issues of sexual violence among married couples.

Several reports including MDGs survey indicates that women, girls and children in Malawi continue to face various forms of violence especially sexual violence. Very often these cases are not reported because in most cases are perpetrated by their close relatives who ought to be there for them.

Malawi Unite to Act Campaign will involve pushing for legislation to criminalise forced and child marriages, empower women, girls and children to challenge and reject sexual violence and end harmful cultural practices that encourage sexual violence including rape, defilement and incest.