UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women Announces over US$8 million in grants: Malawi among beneficiaries
Today is the United Nations International Day to End Violence Against Women to mark the Day, 25 November 2012, the UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet has called on all heads of state and government to make new commitments and take strong national action to protect women and girls. The UN gender entity and women's empowerment chief acknowledged that the world community has already come a long along way with national laws, international treaties, and widespread and growing awareness on ending violence against women. But she says this it is not enough.
She said Government promises must be translated into concrete actions, such as providing new safe houses, free hotline services, and free legal and medical aid to survivors. "The time for complacency has run out. Together, it is possible to stop the violence against women and girls, Mrs. Bachelet said in a televised speech made available around the world.
To assist government s in their various campaigns to end the scourge of violence against women, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which is administered by UN Women announced this past week that over US$8 Million in grants have been disbursed to 12 initiatives in 18 countries. The initiatives taking center-stage were those that are dealing with women in conflict and transitional countries.
In ten countries funds will be used to address violence against women in conflict, post conflict and transitional settings. Malawi is among the ten countries and will use the funds to work among communities with the ending violence in the school environment. Libya received funds also for the first time. This is the Fund's 16th year to disburse funds in the campaign to end violence against women and according to UN Women the funds allocated have been received by more than 350 initiatives in 128 countries over the course of the UNTF?s 16-year history.
Another first for the Fund has been the contribution of significant support from countries in Africa, Latin America and the Arab States region, which is seen as a testament to the growing mobilization to address violence against women globally. Statistically, up to seven in ten women are targeted for physical and or sexual violence in their lifetime and 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is still not considered a crime.
?The UN Trust Fund shows what works to prevent violence against women, to end impunity and to provide services and support to survivors,? said Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women. ?I appeal to governments, business and foundations to support the work of this fund and make a strong contribution to ending violence against women and girls.?
This year?s announcement marks the 16th annual grant-making cycle of the UN Trust Fund. The new grantees will spearhead pioneering approaches worldwide aimed at transforming the lives of women and girls:
In Malawi, Concern Worldwide, an international non-governmental organization, received funds from the UNTF and will promote safe learning environments for girls in primary schools, institutionalizing good practices to end school-related gender-based violence.
The absence of school facilities and overcrowded classrooms in the majority of schools, are not the only problems children face. There are perverse levels of abuse and violence within the schools themselves, of which girls are often the target, are a hidden horror that Concern and other actors are working to end, not only in Malawi but other countries as well.
An example has been highlighted inKenya for where a government report published in November 2009 revealed that some 12,660 girls were sexually abused by their teachers over a five-year period. In some cases, teachers abused as many as 20 girls in a single school before they were reported to authorities.
Typically, girls in all these countries, have less of a voice socially and culturally than their male peers, and are often forced to have sex in exchange for good grades?a practice know as ?sexually transmittable grades.? The report revealed that in its worst form, gender-based violence in schools can leave girls as young as 12 years old pregnant, HIV positive, and homeless.
Ensuring that schools are a safe learning environment for boys and girls is of critical importance both economically and socially, and Concern has made it an urgent priority.
Seventeen percent of all girls in Malawi do not attend as a result of forced marriages and in Nsanje, where Concern is working, this scenario has abruptly cut short the dreams of many young girls. Some 12 percent of all females in the Malawi are aged between 6-13 years, and approximately 74 percent of the population live below the poverty line. Furthermore, approximately 17 percent of girls drop out of school as a result of forced marriages, and schools are not safe for girls due to sexual abuse by male teachers and men at large.
The twin evils of poverty and traditional customs has compelled parents, in a bid to raise finances to maintain their families, and married off their daughters when they think they have come of age. Because the suitor pays a bride price, in an ironic twist, the trend has now developed whereby the younger the girl, the higher the bride price. Concern relates the story of 12 year old Martha, and many young girls like her in Nsanje that are have been caught in the vicious child marriage trap, and sold off before they have finished their schooling.
"Their dreams, hopes and aspirations have been destroyed by these negative cultural practices or by the pervasive daughter- with-cash bartering," Concern reports.
The cultural practices, which unfortunately, are widespread, have been the major contributing factor in preventing girls from receiving an education. For instance, it is believed that girls will gain respect if they marry early and have children. Concern is hosting discussions with community leaders and education officials in Malawi to highlight the importance of education for all children.
At the United Nations where during the United Nations General Assembly Committee work (October to December), in line with the UN.secretary-General Ban Ki-moon call to a global fight to end child marriages, stern language has been incorporated into a draft resolution to eliminate child forced marriages.
In Malawi, the President, Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda to commemorate the first International Day of the Girl Child (that was celebrated around the world on 11 October, 2012), has called for the increase of the age of marriage of girls to 21 years. This will allow the girl child to complete her education as well as delay the first time she starts bearing children.
As the world commemorates this day and the 16 Days of Activism against Violence against Women, it is essential that families, communities and governments join hands in ending violence against women, paving the way to equality of women and thereby "unlocking progress across board."
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