MIAA Head of Programs Ulemu Kusapali said the men who are called change agents are identified in different societies be it in drinking joints, youth clubs, support groups and churches.

“We are working with different groups such as religious leaders, chiefs, bar owners, commercial sex workers, the youths and people living with HIV and our main message is to protect women from all forms of GBV,” said Kusapali.

He said this in Mulanje when the United Nations Resident Coordinator Maria Ribeiro and the Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Steinar Hagen visited some HEforSHE activities being implemented by MIAA with support from the UN Women.

Ribeiro in an interview with Zodiak Online said there is no justification for gender based violence as human rights are to be enjoyed by every person regardless of his or her gender.

“In any circumstance, there is no justifiable GBV and it is therefore important to absolutely condemn all forms of GBV,” said Ribeiro.

On his part, the Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Steinar Hagen expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the HEforSHE project in Mulanje.

“All stakeholders need to strengthen their collaboration in eliminating GBV in the country as we have heard that some cases like child marriages and pregnancies continue escalating,” said Hagen.

Apart from Mulanje, the UN Women funded HEforSHE project is also being implemented in Blantyre, Zomba and Mangochi.