UN Partners MIAA in Popularizing Gender and HIV/AIDS Laws

Mkwamba Mkwamba - pic by Hastings Jimani

The United Nations Malawi office in partnership with the country’s HIV/AIDS religious body- Malawi Interfaith Aids Association (MIAA) have stepped up efforts in sensitizing various sections about gender and HIV/AIDS related laws.

From Monday to Wednesday, the two organizations oriented bar owners, commercial sex workers, chiefs, porters and religious leaders on HIV/AIDS and all gender related laws.

Speaking on Monday, the first day of the training, MIAA Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer Haneef Ngundende said according to the 2018 population and housing census, over 90% of the country’s population goes to ether churches or mosques.

“This clearly means perpetrators of violence against fellow human beings are either Muslims or Christians and it is therefore important to popularize gender and HIV/AIDS related laws to all societies,” said Ngundende.

UN National Programmes Officer responsible for gender, health and HIV/AIDS Pamela Mkwamba Matumbi said some sections like bar owners, Commercial Sex Workers, chiefs, porters and religious leaders have no if any little knowledge on gender and HIV/AIDS related laws.

“If they are ignorant about these laws they cannot ably protect or assist victims of gender or HIV/AIDS related abuses hence the need to train them on these laws,” said Matumbi.

Owner of a Chitakale based Savanna bar and restaurant Alfred Chiwanga said he expects to learn more about the laws during the training.

“Oftentimes we register attacks on commercial sex workers in our bars but little did we know that these women have rights as we considered them as neglects but listening to presentations here, a commercial sex worker just like any human being has rights,” said Chiwanga.

Among other laws, participants to the workshop have been trained on Child care, Protection and Justice Act, HIV/AIDS and Management Act, Gender Equality Act, Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act, Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, Deceased Estate Act and Trafficking In Persons Act.

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Last modified on Wednesday, 30/09/2020

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