The legal team of CSP carries out a number of targeted activities to tackle gender-based violence and trafficking and to support survivors.
Mzuzu Central Hospital one-stop centre
CSP’s legal team provides counseling support and acts as a referral centre for the one-stop centre at Mzuzu Central Hospital. The services are aimed at offering support and access to justice to victims of gender-based violence.
Mircoloans for GBV survivors to help build financial independence
Women who experience GBV are often unable to escape the cycle of violence because of a lack of financial dependency. This support helps women rebuild their lives and become financially independent, this further helps them be able to continue to seek justice in court.
Support to help girls stay in education
The legal team have identified girls who are at risk of early marriage because of family circumstances, mostly orphans, and is supporting them to stay in school. This includes working directly with the school to encourage a supportive environment and giving practical support in the form of school fees learning materials and personal hygiene products.
Community paralegal and awareness-raising activities in rural communities
Trafficking and GBV persist because of a lack of understanding of what constitutes these crimes and underlying social and cultural barriers. Community paralegals give access to information, advice and a route to pursuing justice. At the same time, awareness-raising activities help increase reporting of these crimes and tackling the underlying causes.
Research and advocacy
While it is widely accepted that GBV and trafficking are widespread in northern Malawi there is little documentation of the prevalence of these activities. The legal team is conducting regular research to track awareness, prevalence and progress towards irradicating these and other harmful practices.
With a focus on Karonga and Chitipa, districts at Malawi’s northern border, this project aims to stop the illicit trafficking of people from and through Malawi and its neighbouring countries.
This project is made possible thanks to the support of the Church of Scotland World Mission Council and the St Colms Fund.
