Chakwera talks tough on gender-based violence
President Lazarus Chakwera has directed his government to prepare legislation with punitive measures for those involved in gender-based violence.
In a statement Thursday morning to commemorate the International Human Rights Day,
Chakwera directed the ministries of Justice and Gender to prepare amendments to relevant pieces of legislation as means of addressing the increasing cases of gender-based violence.
He has also directed several relevant ministries to put in place measures that will end the problem.
The statement was released by the State House to mark International Human Rights Day and the end of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.
In the statement, Chakwera says the amendments must include the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code, which will help to fast track the disposal of cases of GBV, to exert stiffer mandatory penalties against culprits, and to establish a Sex Offenders Register.
The Malawi leader says the ministries of Information and Civic Education will embark on a nationwide awareness campaign using all available platforms and tools to spread messages about the rights of women and girls, ensuring that these are both interactive at a domestic level and accessible for our men and boys.
The President says the Ministry of Education will ensure that human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, are taught at every level of education in order to effect a generational mindset change about the same.
GBV, especially that of rape and defilement, has reached a crisis point, with daily reports of the vices across the country.
Learn to understand issues before talking or acting. There is more to this. The lasting solution is not jailing people or castration. No. This has not worked in many countries. Examples… India, USA. Etc. Lets sample a few ofdender
Always talking tough and not acting tough.
Castration of offenders a lasting solution 💪🏿🇲🇼
Mr Toothless dog of a president. All he knows is to talk tough and rough but zero on policy implementation.
I watched an interview on Mibawa TV by Chikondi Phikiso she had with the Magistrate and the Police Officer of Thyolo Boma about GBV. The sentences to the offenders found guilty of sleeping with a girl aged from 1 to 16 is life imprisonment. Those found sleeping with a woman from 17 without their consent ( rape) are sentenced to death. If indeed these sentences exist, why are judges not enforcing them? Where are the gaps?
So what does talking tough mean? Will that end gender-based violence? Talking tough means nothing. What the country needs is tough action, NOT tough talking.