By Demetria Banda
Amidst spate of gender based violence that have terrorized communities in the country, the Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) a relief and development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) conducted a training that was aimed at equipping the staff on gender related laws.
The training which drew participants from Karonga, Mzuzu, Chikwawa, Mangochi and Lilongwe Dioceses of Catholic Church dwelt on sexual and reproductive health Rights (SRHR), Case Referral, Sexual & Gender-based Violence (SGBV) and Marriage, Divorce and Family relations act among others.
One of the facilitators of the training who is also the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)’s National Governance Programs Coordinator, George Chiusiwa said the training will help the staff strengthen legal literacy on gender related laws and serve people properly in the project.
“This training will improve the understanding of the CADECOM project staff on the connection between Gender Based Violence, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, GBV Case Referrals, Gender Responsive Budgeting/Interventions and Gender Related Laws in project implementation context,” Said Chiusiwa
The training was also meant to widen the staff’s skills on assess and compliance of Gender Related Laws in CADECOM interventions and in dealing with gender equality concerns in project areas as well as to facilitate gender responsive planning, budgeting and accountability at the local level for gender inclusive development.
Dowa District Spotlight Focal Person, George Nkhoma commended CADECOM National Office for imparting in them the knowledge that will help guide their work within the recommended laws and standards.
“This training was an eye opener to us as it has brought to light most important policies that guide the delivery of gender services to the societies that we serve as CADECOM under the spotlight initiative with support from European Union (EU) & United Nations (UN). Going forward, the knowledge will be mainstreamed into the project planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation to achieve equal participation by men, women boys and girls,” said Nkhoma
CADECOM’s National Coordinator Chimwemwe Sakunda, said the organization contributes towards reduction of gender based violence.
The training was funded by UN Women through spotlight initiative