REPORT UNEARTH STATISTICS ON WOMEN PERPETUATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUNG BOYS IN MACHINGA

By Meclina Chirwa 

A World Relief Research Report on gender-based violence has revealed that out of 74 cases of sexual assault against boys in Machinga district, 57 were perpetrated by women. 

This has been revealed during a gender-based violence conference on research and dissemination that was held in Lilongwe this week.

In an interview with Timveni Online, Country Director for World Relief Malawi Matilda Matitha said the organization has been implementing a project called Scope HIV in Machinga, Mangochi and Lilongwe which revealed that gender-based violence fuels the spread of HIV hence the need to eliminate it.

Matitha also added they have been using a Forward Together Strategy with a focus on gender-based violence and this provided an opportunity to help in addressing the major gaps in the fight against gender-based violence.

According to the report, women that perpetrate gender-based violence against the youth are those whose husbands are in South Africa in search of economic opportunities.

The SCOPE HIV Project adopted the use of safe spaces to help the youth aged between nine and fourteen to be safe from and respond to sexual gender-based violence.