By Chifundo Mulekano
Malawian content creators are joining global campaign against gender-based violence (GBV), inspired by the Women for Change movement on TikTok.
The campaign, which has seen many users changing their profile pictures to purple, aims at raising awareness and driving change in the fight against GBV, an issue that negatively affects communities globally.
A Malawian youth, women and gender equality activist, Chimwemwe Banda said this week that there was a need to join the ongoing online campaign.
“The campaign is a great initiative, it is educating people about various forms of abuse, and the campaign also encourages survivors to speak out and to seek help. It is also a call to action for various stakeholders as we are approaching the 16 days of activism against gender based violence which will run from November 25 to December 10” she added.
Banda also said it was necessary to look into existing policies that could address issues of GBV from the campaign.
“There is a need to look into National Gender Policy and other laws that are there to help address gender based violence, A lot of people are not aware of policies and laws, as such we expect the campaign to create a better understanding and to push implementation of such policies” she added.
A content creator, Hope Kapile who is well known as Morale the rapper described the campaign as a necessary move to address GBV.
“I saw the need to join the campaign, I believe women anywhere in the world deserve to live without fear. I want to use my voice to support GBV survivors and help create a safer environment, a more respectful community in Malawi,” she added.
Morale the rapper also believes that social media can be leveraged in Malawi towards addressing GBV.
“Social media in Malawi can be a powerful tool to address GBV, this should be used to raise awareness, mobilise and share resources for support. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and WhatsApp are widely used, making them ideal for promoting discussions, sharing stories and encouraging action against GBV” Kapile said.
According to Global Health: Science and Practice, from January 2020 to June 2024, over 9,000 cases of GBV were reported.
Of the GBV cases reported, 54 per cent were among adolescents, aged 10—19 years, 92% were female survivors, and 45% were incidents of sexual violence.
The campaign has gained momentum on social media, with many Malawians changing their profile pictures to purple and sharing messages of support using the hashtag #WomenForChange.
The movement has also sparked conversations about the need for increased support for GBV survivors and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
