A Gumbo CDSS student participating during panel discussion
* Mostly people focus on the physical form of violence not knowing that there is also emotional violence
* As well as economical violence and we hope legal clinics like these will help them get more insight
By Winfrida Kamwana, MANA
AT a student legal clinic that was held at Gumba Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Mchinji, Women Lawyers Association (WLA) said it is dedicated in bringing positive change in fighting against gender-based violence in different communities in Malawi.
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WLA’s Waging Justice for Women Fellow, Tonthozo Saukila said educating children on different forms of gender-based violence will help them understand their rights and empower them to take necessary action when they face such type of violence.
Saukila pointed out that the legal clinic is set — not only to equip students and stakeholders on the different forms of violence — but also to help them understand the roles they can play in assisting victims in their communities.
Saukila
“Mostly people focus on the physical form of violence not knowing that there is also emotional violence as well as economical violence and we hope legal clinics like these will help them get more insight,” she said.
Concurring with Saukila, Gumbo CDSS headteacher, Davidson Edward Chikandira, said the legal clinic has opened students’ minds as well as teachers to not overlook issues on gender-based violence.
“We now know the different forms of violence and I believe that the students will be able to open up more if they are facing any form of violence be it at home or around the school campus,”
Chikandira added that children face different forms of abuse at home which affects their performance in class, which is negative for the educational development.
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Khadija Rashid, a Form 3 student at the school, appreciated the Women Lawyers Association for organising the student legal clinic, saying it has helped them understand their rights better and hope that they will be able to fight against violence in their families and communities.
In collaboration with Clooney Foundation for Justice, WLA is set to conduct 18 legal clinics across Malawi from May to December 2025 — so far conducted in Phalombe and Mchinji.
