Malawi: Malawian artist and Poet Maxwell Mnjemu has released a poem titled Not Just a Banner to extend his support to the campaign against gender-based violence.
The poem comes at an opportune time as the country is currently observing 16 Days of Activism Against GBV continues.
The poem has been written with the aim of throwing emphasis on the importance of equality and actionable steps to GBV. The poet has called for concrete action and not idle talk in terms of action against gender based violence.
His poem asks the people of Malawi to honor the fact that every person has the right to live their own lives in equality.
Maxwell Mnjemu highlighted that the poem goes beyond words, calling for concrete actions to address GBV. He is appealing for collective activism, real and sustainable measures to combat GBV in the country.
“This is not just a poem, it is about interventions we are implementing to mitigate GBV, many people only put GBV in headlines but fail to do activities that prevent it. We need to engage communities, empower survivors and educate people on the importance of equality to achieve real change,” he said.
Executive Director for the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC), Emma Kaliya has also expressed her views on the issue. She has emphasised the importance of consistent advocacy and hailed use of art as an effective tool in addressing GBV.
“Using art is the best way to reach out to people, unlike speeches that are easily forgotten. Artistic forms like poetry, theatre, drama and music stay with people longer; they spark discussions even after performances,” she said.
Kaliya noted that while the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV are crucial in raising awareness, the fight against GBV requires continuous and sustained efforts throughout the year to create a meaningful impact.
“In real sense, GBV should be tackled throughout the year. If we had resources, it would be ideal to empower communities and advocate for the entire 365 days,” she said.
The annual campaign that calls for global action to end violence against women and girls is currently being observed in several parts of the world simultaneously.
The campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 every year.