By Francisco Hermes

Balaka, May 28, Mana: The Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC), in collaboration with Oxfam Malawi, has oriented key stakeholders in Balaka District—including the police, judiciary, health officials, social welfare officers, and the media—on the implementation of mobile courts to enhance justice delivery for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV).

CAVWOC held a two-day workshop in the district where its Programmes Manager, Treassar Msokera, expressed hope for effective delivery of justice in Balaka after orienting the stakeholders, saying the training equipped the stakeholders to handle GBV cases using survivor-centered approach.

“This training has highlighted several systemic obstacles that have been preventing sexual and GBV survivors in rural communities from accessing justice. We therefore hope that this transformative approach will help law enforcers and courts to deliver justice conveniently.

“We expect that all stakeholders will now collaborate using skills and knowledge they have gained during the training plus their existing expertise. We believe this will help them to handle cases related to GBV in their respective sectors and in the community," she added.

Msokera said the training also enlightened stakeholders on how they should expand GBV survivors legal services access through mobile court systems.

Officer In Charge for Utale Police Unit, Inspector Chrispin Gondwe hailed CAVWOC and Oxfam for orienting the police and other stakeholder, saying this will improve collaboration among all structures in delivery of justice on GBV survivors.

“We need to be together as one team for us to proceed with the cases until justice prevail,” he added.

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) reporter, Hellen Luwayo, said the training was crucial as it enabled her to understand how the media should report objectively on GBV issues in relation to delivery of justice.