By Ireen Mseteka
Mzuzu, December 10, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Saulos Chilima, has urged Malawians to refrain from gender based violence (GBV) and enhance interventions in fighting the vice.
The call was made Thursday at Bumba Primary School in Rumphi where he presided over the commemoration of this year’s International Human Rights Day.
Chilima said the commemoration of the day marks the end of 16 days of activism against GBV, a vice which has recently been rampart in the country.
“Malawi has recently seen a sharp increase in GBV cases as the Malawian Police Service has recorded 1, 440 defilement cases between January and October 2019 and 1, 738 similar defilement cases between the same period of 2020,” said Chilima.
The Vice President pointed out that the figures are alarming hence the need for action to end the trend.
“I believe that GBV can be prevented and it can be eradicated. The first step is to change our mindset and attitudes which perpetrate violence against women, girls and children,” he said.
He said everyone should feel safe and protected by the law saying that government is equally appalled by the incidents.
In responding to the queries regarding such unprecedented increase, government instituted a taskforce to look into the causes of sexual violence with goal of providing a lasting solution to curb the inhumane behaviour.
Chairperson for Human Rights Commission, Patrick Semphere, commended government for gazetting Covid-19 prevention taking it into account as a human rights approach.
“Government applied an inclusive approach in dealing with the pandemic and in doing so the country has been able to address the pandemic while maintaining the provision of crucial services and human needs,” said Semphere.
He, however, said the commission is greatly concerned with unprecedented levels of sexual and other forms of human rights abuses.
He said the most shocking element is that parents and guardians who are supposed to be protecting children from all forms of the violence are among those people being involved in the malpractices.
Semphere, then, called upon law enforcement agencies including traditional and religious leaders to be proactive in addressing the immoral behaviors and practices.
“Those found guilty of committing such offences should be arrested and given stiffer penalties,” he said.
The day was commemorated under the theme ‘Recover Better, Stand up for Human Rights’.