Men for Gender Equality Now launched in Malawi

On 25^th November 2009, the Malawi Minister for Gender, Children and Community Development, Hon. Patricia Kaliati, MP launched the Men for Gender Equality Now in Malawi in style as she flagged off three buses of  the MEGEN activists for a five day Men’s Travelling Conference.

The launch at Sawali School grounds in the southern region town of Balaka was attended by several members of parliament - including 5 women - and a team of 10 artists from Men for Gender Equality who had travelled by road from Kenya, and coincided with the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women.

“Real Men” the Minister said, “are not are afraid of women empowerment”. Noting that the involvement of men in fighting Gender-based Violence was crucial she lauded the move and welcomed men to come forward and prove they are real men by playing their role

Mrs. Kaliati lauded Madame Emma Kaliya of Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre, the founder of Men for Gender Equality Now in Malawi, for her passion and work that had earned her the Drivers of Change Award 2009.

In her speech mostly in the local Chichewa language the Minister admonished the men and the women to get involved in actively playing their roles in the family unit; rallied the support from the members of parliament present for pending bills that touch on family and gender issues; and encouraged girls to pursue education as a means to a better life.

The Kenyan team exhibited MTC posters and stickers from the Kenya event and moved the audience with their dramatic narrative piece on responsible sexual behaviour that left the crowd chanting the catch line: “Zip Up! Zip Up!"