Africa-Press – Malawi. As Malawi commemorates the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Optimum Foundation, a human rights organisation, is drawing attention to the often-overlooked victims of GBV, key-populations including transgender individuals, who face significant challenges due to their gender identity.
Speaking to the media, Executive Director of Optimum Foundation, Chifundo Time, stressed that key populations are excluded and women and girls are prioritized in as far as gender-based violence commemoration is concerned.
“As a country, we commemorate the 16 days of activism, but we often exclude key populations from our discussions. These individuals face unique challenges that need to be addressed,” said Time.
The 16 Days of Activism, which runs from November 25 to December 10, is a crucial period for raising awareness about GBV.However, Optimum Foundation believes that the campaign’s focus on women and girls, although important, should not overshadow the experiences of key populations.
“Most of the time, we only talk about women and girls, but key populations also face significant challenges that need to be looked into,” Time emphasizes.
Michael Kayiyatsa, Executive Director for Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), agrees that key populations are often neglected, adding that it is crucial to include them in the conversation.
“It is indeed true that key populations, particularly people whose gender identity doesn’t align with social cultural expectations, are usually subjected to gender-based violence.
Groups like transgender individuals are often subjected to discrimination and violence on the basis of gender identity, that is why it’s important that as we commemorate 16 days of activism, we should also think of these groups to ensure that action is taken to address the challenges they face,” he says.
Optimum Foundation is calling on the government, civil society, and the public to join forces in addressing the often-ignored aspects of GBV, ensuring that all victims receive the support and protection they deserve.
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