By Innocent Chunga

Nkhotakota, February 22, Mana: The Gender and Justice Unit has commended Nkhotakota District Council for approving the anti-sexual harassment policy, adding it will address challenges being experienced in dealing with cases of this nature in the district.

Deputy Director for Gender and Justice Unit, Emma Kalea Chigwenembe, made these remarks Wednesday during a training of trainers on the council's Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy held at Nkhotakota Pottery Lodge in the district.

Chigwenembe said by using legal empowerment to enhance the capacity of the district council to respond to and manage Gender Based Violence (GBV) under the Government of Malawi, a public service workplace anti-sexual harassment policy project implementation is happening in the district and the organisation will continue working towards addressing such related challenges.

"The policy is in line with the Gender Equality Act which prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace as a step towards the achievement of gender equality and ending sexual harassment in the workplace", stressed Chigwenembe.

Meanwhile, Judge Zione Ntaba expressed hope for the policy, citing that it will raise awareness on such issues and save as a warning to perpetrators in workplaces in all districts.

"This is a clear warning because the issues of sexual harassment are becoming common in the country. Therefore, councils, including Nkhotakota, need to have people who can protect those that are affected at the workplace through such policies," said Ntaba.

In his remarks, Principal Gender Officer for the council, Alick Munthali, said the council decided to develop the policy to create a workplace that is free from sexual harassment, adding that the council believes that the incidences of sexual harassment were taking place and went unreported for several years.

"We have committed to assist everyone at the workplace in the district because after the enactment of the Gender Equality Act in 2013, the council did not have an anti-sexual harassment policy to address incidences of sexual harassment at the workplaces in the district," said Munthali.

Gender and Justice Unit organised the workshop under Nkhotakota Basic Services Program supported by the Government of Iceland through Embassy of Iceland in Lilongwe.