Malawi government through the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has ‘strongly’ condemned violence against women and Children.
Minister in the Ministry Mary Navicha made the condemnation on Wednesday following an increase of violence acts against woman and children in the country.
The Minister cited the undressing of a woman by vendors in Blantyre, beating and undressing of a woman by her fellow women in Mzuzu and defilement case in which a woman defiled a 12 year old boy in Dedza as examples.
“All these cases are gross human rights violations with both short- and long-term consequences on survivors. Violence regardless of its form is a deeply painful experience for the victims,” said Navicha in a statement.
Navicha added: “Anybody found attacking women and girls on the basis of their dressing will face the law”
The Minister then urged men and boys to be champions for the rights of women and girls in the country.
Meanwhile, the police in Blantyre on Tuesday arrested two people in connection to the case of undressing a woman while their counterparts in Mzuzu arrested six people for assaulting a woman.
“Ministry commends the Malawi Police Service for swiftly taking the perpetrators of the recent sexual assaults and attacks to book,” commended the Minister
The Ministry also assured women and girls that it is working closely with the Police, Judiciary, Civil Society Organisations and traditional leaders among others to enforce the law; and strengthen the response mechanisms and referral systems for survivors.
