Project reveals gender violence in colleges

EngenderHealth Malawi,through its Essential Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Servicesproject, has said female students in various colleges experience genderviolence.

EngenderHealth Malawi’s project director Chisomo Kaufulu-Kumwenda said this during a sensitisation campaign for first year students at Bunda College of Agriculture, a constituent college of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar), on Thursday evening.

She said most victims do not report their experiences for fear of aggravating their vulnerability.

Kaufulu-Kumwenda said:  “Most girls during panel discussions we have held at Bunda and Natural Resources College [NRC] campuses admitted that they suffer different forms of abuse, including sexual harassment, but they don’t report for fear of further harassment.”

She said the girls have nowhere to report because the abusers are sometimes lecturers or other college staff members.

Luanar assistant registrar responsible for students’ welfare, Noel Jambo, confirmed that girls face various abuses on campus.

But he said most victims withdraw their complaints before investigations are completed.

“We have the mandate to investigate such cases and take appropriate action, but how do we proceed when the victim has withdrawn the case?” asked Jambo.

EngenderHealth made presentations on various forms of harassment in tertiary institutions and responded to questions from the students.

The project seeks to reduce GBV incidences in colleges and increase the coordination of multi-sectoral responders.