By Catherine Tembo/Malawi,
Despite efforts by various organizations to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Malawi continues to register high cases of abuse, not only physical violence but also cyberbullying and online harassment.
In a world where technology has rapidly evolved, it has brought both positive and negative impacts. Malawi has recently witnessed a rise in technology-facilitated GBV, including cyberstalking, online harassment and sexual exploitation on digital platforms.
To help curb the malpractice, Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre has launched a two-year project dubbed Mobile Tech to End Gender-Based Violence in Karonga District. The initiative targets young women and girls in three Traditional Authorities (T/As), who are considered among the most vulnerable to GBV, including technology-facilitated violence.
A 2021 Karonga survey reported alarming prevalence rates of online abuse, with cyberstalking at 92.5 percent, cyberbullying at 83.6 percent and online sexual exploitation at 71.4 percent.
Speaking during the launch, Executive Director of Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre, Emma Kaliya, stressed that many harmful practices continue to take place in communities and urged traditional leaders to take a leading role in ending GBV instead of perpetuating it.
Emma Kaliya described the initiative as an advancement of the organization’s initial Pamoza project, saying the introduction of technology will enhance the programme through a new mobile phone reporting system for Gender-Based Violence cases.
“We have seen chiefs tolerating girls being raped and getting married at an early age. This is something we want to stop. Now girls can report cases using a mobile phone by simply dialing *427# to register and access information on GBV in English, Chichewa and Tumbuka,” she said.
Paramount Chief Kyungu commended the Ministry of Gender for supporting the initiative, describing it as timely and important in reducing GBV cases in Karonga and Chitipa districts.
He appealed to fellow traditional leaders to lead by example and become protectors of their communities by promoting law and order, peace and monitoring GBV trends.
“It is a timely intervention. My area has been experiencing cases of GBV and, as chiefs, we need to be at the forefront in promoting love, peace and protecting our people,” said Paramount Chief Kyungu.
Gender-Based Violence Coordinator for Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid, Beatrice Gumbo, said the organizations decided to support the initiative because they recognize the growing impact of technology-facilitated violence on girls and women.
“We know that when women and girls are suppressed through technology-facilitated GBV, they are unable to contribute effectively to national development. We therefore expect all stakeholders to play a key role in implementing the project,” Gumbo said.
Ministry of Gender, Hannah Kisyombe Prisciple Gender Development Officer, welcomed the initiative, saying the ministry has faced financial challenges in implementing similar projects, making the intervention timely and necessary.
“The project is a plus to us because we believe it will help end gender-based violence perpetrated through the internet,” she said.
She added that despite increasing reports of technology-facilitated violence, efforts currently in place remain inadequate. She said the ministry remains committed to ending the malpractice in order to protect girls and women who are bullied and abused on social media platforms.
Despite ongoing efforts to combat technology-facilitated Gender-Based Violence, many women and girls in Malawi remain disadvantaged due to limited digital access and low levels of digital literacy. With only 34.5 percent owning mobile phones and just 4.7 percent having access to the internet, the digital divide continues to expose them to online abuse while limiting their ability to access information, report cases and seek support.
As technology continues to shape society, stakeholders must intensify efforts to ensure that women and girls are not left behind, but are instead protected, empowered and given equal opportunities to safely participate in the digital world.
Hannah Kisyombe Ministry of Gender
“This is welcome initiative to end technology facilitated violence”
