‘Fight child marriages’
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has asked community structures in Mulanje to intensify the fight against child marriages.
The ministry’s child affairs director McKnight Kalanda said this on Friday in the district during a meeting with youth clubs, traditional leaders and child protection committee members under Strengthening Civil Society to End Child Marriages (18+BMZ) Project.
“We need your involvement in the fight against the malpractice. We will empower you with knowledge to protect children rights,” he said.
Besides commending the structures for popularising child laws, he asked them to ensure justice is served in courts.
Mulanje Police Station officer Emmanuel Chisona asked people to report defilement cases.
“These are crimes that require perpetrators to be punished by the law,” he said.
On his part, group village head Chisutu said he will urge his subjects to protect children.
With funds from the German Government, Girls Empowerment Network, in conjunction with Plan International Malawi, is implementing the 18+BMZ Project to end child marriages in senior chiefs Chikumbu and Mthiramanja in the district.
