At the closing of 16 days of activism organised by Police Women Network, at Mpamba in Nkhatabay, Director of Gender Affairs in the Ministry, Mary Safalawo, said some harmful cultural practices which still exist and promoting Gender Based Violence (GBV), are negatively affecting girl’s and women’s education and contribution to national development.

Calling on chiefs to act on curbing the harmful practices, Safalawo outlined that when a girl is forced into early marriage her right to education is violated. “This in turn affects the contribution of women towards the country’s development” she said.

On the other hand, Traditional Authority Timbiri of Nkhatabay hailed the Police Women Network for working with chiefs’ wives to engage them in sharing about GBV. Present at the discussion was Officer in Charge at Nkhatabay Police Station, Mike Chona, who advised girls and women who have suffered from GBV to report to the Victim Support Unit for action.