Briefing members of the press in Lilongwe, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Jean Kalilani said potential perpetrators of violence, both men and women, should internalize positive values which respect and protect the dignity of all people and particularly the vulnerable groups.

Themed, “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls” and localized to, “Leave No One Behind: End Gender Based Violence,” the Minister said this will help reach out to both men and women.

“We are not leaving women behind when it comes to sensitization because of late we have witnessed women perpetrators of violence in action. Potential perpetrators of violence, both men and women, should internalize positive values which respect and protect the dignity of all people and particularly the vulnerable groups by ensuring that they are free from any form of violence,” said the Minister.

Kalilani appealed to all institutions to make deliberate visible initiatives within the 16 days by flooding the media and communities with messages of peace that aim at ending Gender Based Violence.

The Minister will lead the nation in launching the 2017 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence on Saturday, 25th November, 2017 at the Police Ground in Mzimba district from 09.30 am.

The Campaign was set aside by the United Nations for the Member States to consolidate and intensify the efforts and initiatives for prevention and eradication of gender based violence (GBV) annually.