Malawi Launches 2025 Sixteen Days of Activism With Calls to Tackle Digital and Physical GBV

Malawi has launched the 2025 commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls, with strong calls for intensified action against both physical and digital forms of gender-based violence.

Speaking during a press briefing at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, Minister of Gender, Mary Navicha, said the campaign provides a vital platform for government, civil society, and communities to unite in combating rising cases of online harassment, cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and digital exploitation.

Navicha revealed alarming trends, noting that one in three Malawian children experience cyberbullying, while women and girls continue to face increasing digital threats.

UN Women Deputy Representative, Fatma Mohammed, echoed the concerns, highlighting persistent inequalities. She noted that one in three women experience physical violence, while 42 percent of Malawian girls are married before the age of 18.

Mohammed reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting the country’s fight against gender-based violence through legal reforms, digital literacy initiatives, and stronger accountability systems.

The national launch event for the 2025 campaign was held at Khwisa Primary School in Balaka.

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