Poet tackles gender based violence

Award-winning poet Robert Chiwamba is set to release a poem and video as part of the worldwide commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV) this week.

The Udzafa Imfa Yowawa star told Malawi News Agency on Tuesday that the poem was produced under the Skills and Technical Education (Step) project, an initiative by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) that celebrates and encourages women working in male-dominated professions.

“The poem Taima basically says we should stand against all forms of violence with emphasis on GBV. It calls on different stakeholders to stand together with Step and scores of others in the battlefield against GBV,” said Chiwamba.

Since his appointment as Step ambassador in May this year, the poet toured several technical colleges on a mission to encourage the youth, especially girls, to embrace technical, vocational and entrepreneurial studies as a way of breaking gender stereotypes that categorise jobs as being strictly for males or females.

The poet, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration, observed that most challenges affecting young women in pursuit of their goals in the technical fields include GBV, noting that most of them face abuse by friends and instructors alike.

However, Chiwamba said most of the GBV victims fail to realise that they were being subjected to abuse and that most of such remain unreported.

“I have been touched personally. That is the reason I thought of dedicating my 16 Days of Activism to challenge GBV where, among other things, I will share a message based on GBV through my social media platforms,” the celebrated poet said.

“I have confidence that whatever little contribution I will make will go a long way. We will continue with the campaign until we see some change,” he added.

The 16 Days of Activism against GBV campaign is observed each year from November 25 to December 10 to influence action to end violence against women and girls around the globe.

This year’s campaign is being held under the theme: Leave No One Behind: End Violence Against Women and Girls, which reflects the core principle of the transformative 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, according to the United Nations Women.