Project overview
“Women Empowerment for Ending Gender Based Violence Project (WEG-BVP) is a two year project implemented to promote peaceful existence in Rumphi district, Northern Malawi. The project being implemented in T/A Mwankhunikira and T/A Chikulamayembe, targets autonomous groups of women and girls which mainly seek to promote women empowerment by fighting against violence against women and girls, including sexual gender based violence (SGBV) and harmful cultural practices (HP), and promoting sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) of women and girls. Ultimately, the purpose is empower women’s rights groups, autonomous social movements and relevant civil society organizations, including those representing youth and groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalization, to more effectively influence and advance progress on GEWE and EVAWG, including SGBV/HP in Rumphi district thus contributing to the goals of Spotlight and Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund.
The project has been designed in line with Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 3, 5 and 10 which seek to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and to reduce inequality within and among countries respectively.
Project activities include:
- Capacity building of women and girls as champions for demanding justice for the survivors of VAWG, SGBV and HP.
- Women and girls will interface with duty bearers to enhance service delivery on EVAWG that is responsive to the SRHR and EVAWG needs of women and adolescent girls including the survivors of SGBV and HP.
- Strengthening of the referral system for seeking justice and addressing VAWG from the community level to the council level, through the Social Welfare Office, Police, Health facilities and finally the courts for exacting justice on the perpetrators.
- Review of the laws and policies related to EVAWG, SGBV and HP and the production of a hand book for training girls and women translated into vernacular for easy communication in the rural areas. This will increase knowledge amongst the women and girls to demand accountability and transparency on the services for EVAWG
- Capacity building of women and girls to design, implement, manage, monitor and evaluate programmes aimed at EVAWG including SGBV and HP.
Project stakeholders
The project is collaboratively working with community leaders including ADC, VDC, Area Gender Network, Mother groups, Women Forums, traditional and religious leaders including people (women and girls) with disability and youth etc. and council level actors including the District Gender and Social Welfare Office, District Youth Office, District Health Office, Police Victim Support Unit, and the Magistrate Court.
During implementation of this project, LICO and all stakeholders will make sure to implement measures for Covid-19 prevention and control including maintaining social distances hence contributing to SDG-3 (good health and wellbeing).
