By Mwai Kumanda

Lilongwe, March 29, Mana: Human Rights of Women and Girls with disability (WAG), a local organisation which is aimed at fighting gender based violence among women and girls with disabilities says it will soon conduct a research to establish the main causes of GBV cases among the people with disabilities.

Speaking on Thursday in Lilongwe, WAG Disability Rights Programmes Manager Doris Butao said the goal of this research project is to see that women and girls with disabilities in the country are being protected and live a life free from violence and abuse.

Butao said the research will target women with disabilities from the age of 18 to 46 years, following the 2016 demographic survey that indicates that this age group is at higher risk of facing violence.

“Many times people take advantage of women with disabilities by abusing them. They do not live to their full potential, hence this research project will therefore promote and protect them and advance for their active and meaningful participation in socio economic development of their lives, communities and the country at large,” she said.

She further said the research will bring to light information and guidance to women with disability whose rights have been violated and also empower these women to exercise and defend themselves when exposed to violence.

“Most of the times the society believes that these women cannot make sound decisions on their own, this research will dwell on customs and traditions that discriminate women with disability and will advocate for change,” she said.

Lilongwe Police Community Policing Coordinator Sub-inspector Frank Kaila commended the initiative by WAG saying the research will help to bring to lime light cases that were not reported to the police and this will help them to make a follow-up.

“As Police we are so happy for this research because it will make us more knowledgeable in handling such cases since these women will be taking the leading role in reporting any form of abuse,” he said.

Lilongwe District Council Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Blessings Makhiringa thanked the organization for the initiative saying it will help a lot of women who face GBV abuse and it will also help in eliminating customs and traditions that discriminate women with disability.

Makhiringa said the research project results will also assist other stakeholders to recognize the number of women with disability facing GBV and assist them to get the necessary support they need.