Activist calls for strong law enforcement against online abuse

Gender activist Evelyn Makalande is advocating for stringent enforcement of laws protecting internet users and increased awareness of the legislation to safeguard women and girls from online abuse.

Advancements in technologies have seen misuse of the modern technologies, leading to frequent sharing of degrading and non-consensual images of women and girls on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp among others.

This is despite the availability of proper legislation including the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act and the Penal Code Act that aim to protect individuals using the internet.

The two pieces of laws outline several crimes people commit while using the internet, among them cyber spamming, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, offensive communication and others.

Speaking to Capital FM, Makalande pointed out that although Malawi has robust laws, their enforcement remains challenging.

“I believe that strategic measures that are already there are good. We have laws here in Malawi, what needs to be done is to promote enforcement of the same,” Makalande stated.

She added that on awareness, there is a need for increased campaigns to educate the public about online abuse, noting that many women and girls are not aware that simple things like sharing their photos without their consent is a form of abuse.

“I believe that there should be that intensive awareness of online abuse because you cannot deal with something that people do not take as abuse. Most of the girls and women are not aware that they are being abused,” she said.

While acknowledging the prevalence of online abuse particularly against women and girls, national police spokesperson Peter Kalaya assured that the police service is committed to enforcing the law and raising public awareness.

“Since we have proper legislation in the country, we are actively investigating and prosecuting offenders. Whenever a complaint comes to any of our stations, we investigate and make sure that we arrest the suspects and bring them to book,” Kalaya said.