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Malawi: Meeting on Law on Violence against Women starts

The Catholic Church in Malawi, through the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Gender Desk has organized a meeting to discuss the domestication of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), as well as advocating for the passing of gender related bills starting March 12, in Lilongwe, reports CISA.

According to a press statement, the ECM Gender Desk has been implementing a two year project titled, “Promoting Gender Equity and Ending Gender Based Violence in rural communities in Malawi.

One of the challenges identified in the implementation of the said project is the absence of powerful legislation that could help eradicate gender based violence.

The Gender Coordinator, Alinafe Chikakuda said that Malawi has ratified and is a signatory of (CEDAW), yet, the same has not been domesticated by an enabling Act of Parliament.

She also said this is the case because in as far as International instruments are concerned; Malawi is a dualist country where international instruments do not acquire the force of Law merely by ratification, unless they are tabled in parliament, discussed and passed (domesticated) in an Act of Parliament.

Members that will be present at the meeting are: the Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, female Members of Parliament, Chairpersons of Parliamentary Committees, Malawi Law Society, the Law Commission, Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Justice and members of the Civil Society.

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TAGS: Malawi Law on Violence against Women gender based violence Catholic Church in Malawi

[03/14/2010]

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