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UN Malawi Bulletin, July 2019

Pays
Malawi
Sources
UNCT Malawi
Date de publication

Spotlight pilot phase improves access to justice for violence survivors : p 3-4

IN THIS ISSUE

Remote school gets access to safe water………….p. 9
Protecting fishing communities from the effects of climate change...p. 13-14
Rebuilding communities after Cyclone Idai………….p. 21

Spotlight pilot phase improves access to justice for violence survivors

Access to justice for victims of gender-based violence in two of the six districts targeted by the Spotlight Initiative in Malawi is improving following implementation of the pilot phase of the initiative in the districts.

The Spotlight Initiative is a new global programme focused on eliminating violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, and harmful practices. In Malawi, its partnership involves the Malawi Government, United Nations, European Union, civil society and local communities.

The pilot phase of the initiative was implemented in Mzimba and Ntchisi between December 2018 and February this year, during which many victims of gender-based violence (GBV) accessed justice.

Mzimba District Gender Officer, Japhet Chirwa, said the start of the Spotlight Initiative in the district has seen authorities handling about 70 gender-based violence cases in three months, out of which over 50 were completed. In three of the completed cases, perpetrators received court punishment, while in six other cases, girls who were married off were withdrawn from early marriages and brought back to school. “One of the cases that went to court is about a 53-year-old man who defiled a 14-year-old and mentally challenged girl,” said Chirwa. “Survivors of the violence are able to access services because they now have information and support. The support includes transportation, food and medical services in the process of accessing justice.” He said case reporting and referral have improved because communities are now more aware of their rights, laws that protect them, and available gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health (SRH) services, including those provided at community victim support units (CVSUs). CVSUs are one stop-centres that offer the much-needed assistance to adult and child victims of crimes, especially GBV and child abuse, exploitation and neglect. In the two districts, the Spotlight Initiative has renovated infrastructure and strengthened service delivery at some CVSUs.

Ntchisi District Commissioner, Peter Jimusole, said the renovation of Thondo Community Victim Support Unit in the district has also resulted in increased reporting of GBV cases and access to services and support.

With Spotlight support, Traditional Authority (TA) Thondo also said his subordinate chiefs and community groups have teamed up to eliminate violence against women and girls in his area. “We are working together to scrutinize all our traditional practices and abolish the negative ones,” said TA Thondo. “I have told my subjects that I will not hesitate to dethrone any chief who encourages harmful cultural practices in my area.” Director of Gender Affairs Department in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Mercy Safalawo, said Malawi Government is committed to ensuring that violence against women and girls is eliminated. “One of the obstacles to ending violence against women and girls is negative mindsets about rights of women and girls,” said Safalawo. “We will ensure that people understand that men and women are equal and that violence against women is unacceptable.” UN Resident Coordinator, Maria Jose Torres, said the programme will continue forging and strengthening partnerships with all key stakeholders and communities to ensure women and girls enjoy their rights and live better lives. “Ending violence against women requires a change in people’s attitudes,” said Torres. “To achieve this change, we cannot just engage girls and women alone. Boys and men also need to take part in having and encouraging positive attitudes towards women and girls.” Team Leader for Social Sectors and Infrastructure at the Delegation of the European Union, Virginie Lafleur-Tighe, said gender equality cannot be achieved without addressing gender-based violence. “If we don’t attack gender-based violence, we will never manage to pull out of poverty,” said Lafleur-Tighe. “As long as women are not fully empowered to live their full potential, develop themselves and have their rights respected, there can’t be any development.” She said the EU was pleased to see that the Spotlight Initiative is enabling people to openly describe practices that they do not want in their communities as well as point at mechanisms that enable gender-based violence and traditions that are harmful to women and girls. “When people are able to talk about this problem, this is when we can start finding solutions and ways of addressing the issues without destroying culture, without diminishing the role and importance of men, and without transforming this into a conflict that does not exist.”