Chisala wins ‘bloodless’ marital status war with Norway
Sarai Chisala of EmGender Research Network, who challenged a Norwegian development arm over the use of “single” in an advert seeking young women for internship, has successfully won the battle and the advert has been withdrawn from a newspaper pending removal of the marital status.
In the letter , Thor Offedal, country director for Development Fund of Norway says marital status does not and shall not have any impact on employment opportunities at the Fund.
“We fully agree that being ‘single’ is an unacceptable criteria for being considered in a position, be it as an intern or in a permanent post ,” said Offedal.
“The Development Fund of Norway is committed to promoting gender equality and ensuring that young and older women are given the much needed platform to unleash their potential and exercise their skill without hindrance,” says the country director.
Chisala had written an open letter to the Fund on November 2 explaining that the use of the word ‘single’ was discriminatory and asked the organisation to withdraw it.
The letter was reproduced by lawyer Sunduzwayo Madise who posted on his Facebook wall and it went viral.
The Fund says it respects gender issues saying this is simplified in the type of work they do, for instance all the Fund’s current programmes in Malawi explicitly state that 50% of the organisation’s beneficiaries will be girls and women.
“We regret the use of the term ‘single’ and we will not use the same in our future adverts. We will also re-advertise the internship where the word single will not feature;” says Offedal.
The issue attracted widespread condemnation in the social media and also commendation for the Norwegians have maturely handled the issues.
Human rights activist Billy Mayaya welcomed the decision.
“Instead of being overly defensive, the response is what we expect from progressive minds,” he said.
The issue cannot however be enforced by other employers as the order is not from courts of law.
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This must be a very stupid battle indeed! Norwegians must be laughing ku Area 43. Why not fight WVI? It only recruits BAs but ‘serve’ the children of us, non-BAs. Za ziiii!
Ndibwino kulenba a single amalawi kukonda kuzanzika ku ntchito pangonongono apongozi akudwala amuna anga ali mchipatala mwana anthamangisa ku sukulu ndi zina zambiri dziko lingatukuke choncho
Eish
I am saying this again. Every job has preferences. Nothing like discrimination. An example of such jobs ndi usembe. The organisation was just trying to be polite. Sunduzwayo is just an attention seeker. Wake up
Osh dziko likupita kuti inunso akanganya
MALAWI GOVERNMENT MUST PUMP SENSE IN FOREIGN ORGANIZATION BY ORDERING THEM TO READ THE SUPREME LAW OF MALAWI BEFORE THEY ENTER MALAWI. THIS CONDUCT WAS AGAINST SECTION 20 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF MALAWI WHICH IS VERY SUPREME TO ANY OTHER LAW THE WORLD MAY HAVE AS PER SECTION 5 OF THE SAME.
BRAVO MADISE FOR PUBLICIZING THE LETTER, I HOPE OTHERS WILL LEARN
This is really good news worthy reporting. Why single? Think about it Mbiri. If they had not raised the concern nothing could have happened.
The Nirwegians were just being honest!! After the interviews, they will just select a candidate who is single despite your protests and what have you!! End of story!!! Aaaaaa!!
Go and start your own organization where you shall not put the word ‘single’. Useless lawyers!!!
Good, but Malawi has more pressing issues at home to deal with than spending money and time fighting Norway on their advert. How many poor Malawians does this fight help.
Good humanity but who does serve? Look at the suffering Malawians and prioritize the fight.