Plan International Malawi, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages Malawi and World Vision, under the banner of Child Rights Now Network have strongly condemned the Achalume cartoon, by Mr. Haswell Kunyenje, published in the Malawi News edition of 28th December 2019 – 3rd January 2020.
The cartoon depicts an adult man suggesting to his colleague that he contracted a sexually transmitted infection from a 16 year-old girl he slept with on new year’s eve.
In a joint statement signed by four NGOs made available to Faceofmalawi reporter, the grouping has expressed its sadness on the message portrayed by the cartoon.
“As organisations that fight for the rights of women and girls, we are horrified that the defilement of a minor has been normalized, and seen as something humorous, rather than a crime and a violation of human rights.
“This portrayal of girls and women in this way is retrogressive as Malawi strives to protecting girls’ human rights to fulfil its commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The cartoon sexualises women and girls and undermines their dignity and rights by depicting them as powerless, vulnerable and objects of entertainment in the public domain,” reads in part the statement.
Added the statement: “We strongly condemn this cartoon. Humour and satire have great potential to bring visibility to and foster critical thinking on gender equality issues. Mr. Kunyenje ought to realise that cartoonists around the world are helping to end gender discrimination with spirited and thoughtful depictions of the inequalities and injustices women face.
“The cartoon portrays toxic masculinity in its worst form – that as long as you have money and power and you can abuse women and girls – and is particularly disappointing as so many stakeholders in Malawi are working together to uproot harmful gender norms and gender-based violence in our patriarchal society.”
The grouping has since appealed to artists, content creators, editors, marketers and publishers to avoid reinforcing metaphors that promote stereotypes and disregard gender integrity and request Mr. Kunyenje and the editors of Malawi News to make a full and frank apology.
