By Daniel Itai.
Malawi (News of The South) – Malawi is gearing up for yet another Girl Child Movement organization. SheDecides Malawi is an organization aimed towards improving the life of the girl child through promotion of sexual reproductive health rights and comprehensive education.
Launched over the weekend in Lilongwe, SheDecides Malawi is made up of four Non-Governmental Organizations which include, Her Liberty, Family Planning Association of Malawi, Banja La Mtsogolo and Plan International.
SheDecides Malawi taskforce member Hastings Banda said, SheDecides Malawi is part of the larger network of SheDecides, which is a global political movement.
“The movement wants girls to be able to decide for themselves without question what they want to do with their bodies, this will guarantee them a bright future. Yes, other organizations are already having a lot of interventions to promote the welfare of girls but if the girl child is not empowered to decide for herself, such interventions are bound to fail.
Our strategy is that we work with chiefs, policy makers and parliamentary committees of women caucuses,” said Banda.
Most Malawian girls are raped or sexually assaulted by people they know.
Boyfriends or partners, family members and teachers are the highest perpetrators.
Child rape in the form of incest or by community members can be deemed acceptable in the name of cultural practices.
In some areas, fathers are known to sleep with their daughters if their wives refuse sex or fall sick, or determine how much to charge for the daughter’s bride price.
Parents might marry off their young daughters to older men without the girls’ consent under a practice called “Kupumbira,” in exchange for tokens such as farming inputs or debt payments.
Men justify the rape of virgins as a way of cleansing sicknesses, including HIV, clear curses, and bringing fortune.
Corruption and chronic judicial delays often kill cases, as witnesses drop out or families opt to accept bribes from sexual offenders rather than pay them to officials.
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