JB directs economic activities to GBV victims

Malawi President Joyce Banda has directed the Ministry of Gender and Childrens Welfare to ensure that economic empowerment and self-esteem activities are introduced by mid this year targeting victimised girls and women accessing services at the One Stop Centre facilities.

Banda made the remarks after opening the One Stop Centre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, which will provide an integrated and holistic approach to ensure that survivors of sexual or physical abuse access required services under one roof.

Another centre has been opened in Zomba, while two are about to be constructed in Lilongwe and Mzuzu cities. By 2017, there will be 17 operational centres in the country.

Banda said many times, survivors of violence were not clear as to where to access what services.

DfID provided financial support to Unicef which constructed the centres.