Support Malawi mothers—Kaliati

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati says government is committed to respecting and supporting mothers in the country.

Kaliati was speaking on Wednesday in Lilongwe during news conference to commemorate Mother’s Day, World Rural Mother’s Day and the International Year of the Women.

“Government recognises the role women play in society. It is committed to respecting and supporting mothers to end gender-based violence [GBV],” said Kaliati.

She, however, urged women to take a leading role in family planning, HIV and Aids, sexual reproductive health and education.

UN Women Malawi representative Alice Shackelford said Mother’s Day commemoration is vital for the country’s social economic development.

Said Shackeford,: “Women’s empowerment is not only about government and the UN but it’s about the media, the academia, the private and public sector and everyone in general.”

Shackelford said issues of GBV are global and needed an integrated effort to reduce or end them.

Director of research, planning and reform in the Malawi Police Service (MPS) Agnes Gondwe said police have mainstreamed gender in their programmes.

She said the Police have also embarked on schools outreach programs to sensitize girls on gender based violence as a way of reducing the malpractice.

Gondwe advised parents and guardians to protect the girl child from sexual and other gender based violence in the communities.

2015 Mothers Day was commemorated under the theme ‘ Women Empowerment is a Drive to Economic Development’ while the World Rural Mothers’ Day and International Women’s Day will be commemorated on 30th October in Lilongwe.

 

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