Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara has called upon the nation to rise up and end the spate of violence against women.

Hara has joined female journalists in a march against rape and defilement in Lilongwe.

The demonstrations were held by Association for Women in Media (AWOME) in both cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre.

In Blantyre, AWOME chairperson, Edyth Kambalame stressed the need for authorities to toughen the laws to deter would be offenders.

An increase in rape and defilement cases in Malawi has prompted the female journalist to go to the streets for speedy action from authorities.