Declare Sexual Violence as a National Crisis – Activists

Women Doctors Association in collaboration with NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) have asked President Lazarus Chakwera to declare the sexual violence cases happening in the country as a national crisis.

The remarks have been made by a member of the grouping, Bridget Solomba Malewezi, during a press briefing that was held in Lilongwe.

Malewezi said they have come up with the idea because there has been a lot of sexual harassment reports in the country and 1 out of 5 girls under the age of 18 are sexually harassed in the country.

She added that lack of action by the law enforcers is making the offenders continue with the bad actions.

Malewezi said the situation needs to be given urgent attention by government and all stakeholders.

She said they want government to make sure there are special courts to prosecute and sentence stiffest punishments to the sexual offenders.

Malewezi continued by recommending Ministry of Education to introduce a curriculum of sexual violence in schools, Colleges and Universities, so that girls should know about sexual violence.

The grouping has since given government 90 days to act on the matter and make sure the acts are reduced in the country.

Malewezi then said the grouping will on Monday 16 November hold a March in the cities of Lilongwe Blantyre and Mzuzu in order present their grievances to the authorities.