Source: Malawi News Agency
Mchinji police officers on Saturday promised to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the district with dedication and professionalism. The officers said this during a day long workshop on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) project organized by the district social welfare office.

"We are happy that the Social welfare Office organized this workshop, we have learnt how to deal with GBV as police officer and how we are supposed to handle the issues professionally," said Byson Vasulu one of the participants at the workshop.

The workshop focused on drilling the officers how to handle GBV in their various duties as one way of implementing the GEWE project which is financed by the European Union through the UNFPA and is being implemented by the Malawi government.

Vasulu said the communities in Mchinji should now know that cases of GBV will be handled with urgency and professionally.

"I think we lacked this training. It is timely and we will handle cases accordingly," he said.

Mchinji registers 50 cases every month on GBV of which many emanate from extra-marital affairs, wife battering, illegal divorces, rape and defilement.

As one way of making the project work, Mchinji Police Victim Support Coordinator Prisca Maulana, the Malawi police service has established a gender prosecution unit which will help in dealing with GBV.

"Under this unit police officers are expected to ensure that victims have access to services, have been given right information about their rights and also be provided with an enabled environment to discuss their ordeal," she said.

Mchinji district social welfare officer, Rodwel Chunga said it is high time the district police officer started handling issues of women empowerment and GBV seriously and professionally.

He said police have a role to play in ensuring the empowerment of women in communities by making sure that people know some cultural practices that demean women and promote GBV.

"We have to handle issues that demean women professionally and help the women move out from that set up. We have a role to play to help reduce GBV," he said.

In Mchinji, Ministry of Gender is working with CRECOM in implementing GEWE programme.

• Malawi