Chanco in Solidarity March against Gender Based Violence

On 14th September 2017, students and staff at Chancellor College participated in a solidarity march against gender based violence (GVB). The march was in solidarity with the national march that took place in Lilongwe on the same day condemning the increase in GBV, in particular violence against women.

The solidarity march was organized by the Gender Justice Clinic at the Faculty of Law, Chancellor College, and included the reading of a summary petition drawn from one prepared by the organizers of national march, (civil society organizations and human rights defenders) and another by Malawian women living in Geneva.

The petition called on the Malawi Government and Malawi Human Rights Commission to lead the process in ensuring enforcement of gender specific laws such as the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA) as well as the Gender Equality Act (GEA) and protecting women and girls against GBV. It also called on all individuals, in particular men, to act together and challenge gender-based discrimination, social norms and stereotypes that perpetuate GBV in society. The petition also stated that prevention of GBV should start early in life, by educating and working with young boys and girls promoting respectful relationships and gender equality. Furthermore, the petition demanded that all cases of GBV should be reported to stop the secrecy and protection of perpetrators.

The march was well patronized and supported by Chancellor College management, academic members of staff, students and Chikanda community leaders.