By Precious Mtuwa
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has commended Tithetse Nkhaza initiative for introducing a referral pathway in order to reduce delay’s and congestion’s on cases of gender based violence in courts.
Minister of Gender Mary Thom Navicha made the remarks after visited key stakeholder; One Stop Centre, Victim Support Units among other areas were cases are heard in Blantyre this week
Navicha visit was to learn and appreciate how referral pathways will help in reducing cases of gender based violence.
Navicha said was satisfied on how stakeholders are undertaking their work to curb gender based violence by doing awareness campaigns, counselling among others and that the referral pathways will compliment those works.
“Despite the good worka that stakeholders are doing I also noted; lack of resources, transportation as some of the challenges at the One Stop Centre, however the ministry will support in tackling these problem, so that at the end of everything, everyone is able to acquire justice”, Navicha said.
The Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court Texious Masoamphambe the court is working together with the police to make sure that they assist in reducing gender based violence “As it needs concerted efforts from different stakeholders.
Tithetse Nkhanza Technical Legal Adviser Chisomo Kaufulu said that referral pathways will help the stakeholders and victims to know their roles and responsibility at the same time knowing the procedure on how cases are reviewed up until they get justice.
“It was noted that victims could not report their cases as they were not aware where to report their cases and at the same time feeling exhausted as they keep on saying the same story at different stages”, Kaufulu said.
This is happening at the time the world is commemorating world days of activism against Gender-Based Violence which commenced on 25 November, 2019 under the Theme “Generation Equality Stands Against Rape and Sexual Harassment”
Malawi is on top 20 of countries that has highest rate of child marriages, in which 38% of women and girls are subjected to sexual violence in their lifetime, 21 % of girls aged 15 to 18 are subjected to sexual violence.
