UN women to Fight Child Marriages

United Nations women officials have revealed that they will extend a Women Economic Empowerment Project (WEEP) in Salima and Dedza for a period of one year.

Speaking to reporters in Salima, District Executive Committee Habiba Osman said a lot of girls who were rescued from early marriages are at risk of going back due to lack of support.

“This project is interested to work with chiefs in Dedza and Salima who are already working on ending child marriages,” Habiba said.

She further said that they have put measures to prevent child marriages hence they need support for the survivors from other stakeholders.

Commenting on the matter Francis Matita of UN women said two projects are scheduled to be implemented.

“The two projects to be implemented are ‘we learn’ and ‘eliminating of child marriages’ which will focus on providing education to survivors of child marriage and empowering chiefs and communities to end child marriages,” Matita said.

District social welfare Officer for Salima, Fedda Mbwana complimented the project saying it will also help to reduce child labour.

The WEEP project will be implemented in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachindamoto in Dedza and T/A Mwanza in Salima.