GJU Launches Mobile App to Address Gender-Based Violence in Malawi

The app launch coincides with the global campaign theme "Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women & Girls."

LILONGWE, MALAWI — A groundbreaking mobile application launched by the Gender and Justice Unit (GJU) seeks to provide critical legal support for women experiencing technology-facilitated gender-based violence, addressing a pervasive national challenge, writes Winston Mwale.

The app was launched on November 28, 2024, during a webinar titled “Empowering Voices: Tech-Facilitated GBV and Legal Empowerment in the Digital Age.”

The webinar, coinciding with the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, featured a panel of experts who discussed the growing problem of online violence against women.

The online event included a poetry reading by Upile Chisala, an acclaimed Malawian poet.

Chisala’s poetry focused on themes of women’s strength and resilience, creating a powerful atmosphere for the discussions that followed.

EmpowerLine Malawi represents a digital solution to a complex social problem. National statistics reveal that one in two women in Malawi report experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with 42% experiencing physical violence from a partner—significantly higher than the global average of 27%.

"While developing EmpowerLine Malawi, I kept thinking about how many of us—even those with smartphones and degrees—still don't know our legal rights or where to turn when facing gender-based violence," said Sarai Chisala-Tempelhoff, GJU's founder and director.

“Every feature in this app came from conversations with women like us—women who have access to technology but still face the same struggles with gender-based violence and uncertainty about our legal options.”

She added, “You can quietly look up your rights, understand the legal steps available to you, and find emergency contacts—all without having to tell anyone you’re looking for help.”

#App Features and Functionality

The application offers comprehensive features designed to support vulnerable populations:

- 24/7 virtual legal assistance through an intuitive chatbot

- Comprehensive civil rights information

- Search functionality in English and local languages

- Emergency contact information

- Step-by-step legal support guidance

Funded by the Irene M. Staehelin Foundation and developed by Chameleonic, the app transforms existing legal information booklets into an interactive digital format.

The technology emerges against a stark global backdrop: approximately 51,100 women were killed by intimate partners or family members in 2023, averaging 140 women and girls daily.

Strategic Approach to Legal Empowerment

Emma Kalea Chigwenembe, the organization's Programmes Manager, emphasized the app's strategic approach.

"What makes EmpowerLine unique is that it's not just another app—it's a digital extension of our grassroots legal empowerment work," she said.

“Every image in the app comes from our actual fieldwork, showing our deep connection to the communities we serve.”

Justice Zione Ntaba, a High Court Judge, spoke about the challenges the judiciary faces in prosecuting tech-facilitated GBV.

She highlighted the general lack of awareness among the public of laws protecting their online privacy.

“Not a lot of people still know that there’s a Data Protection Act which protects people’s privacy,” she said.

Ntaba stressed the importance of increased public awareness of existing legal frameworks, such as the Data Protection Act, the e-Transactions Act and the Cyber Crimes Act, which can be used to prosecute perpetrators of online offences.

She also highlighted the need for improved training for law enforcement and judicial officers in applying these laws to cases of cyberbullying, harassment, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

Expanding Accessibility

The organisation plans to expand accessibility by launching an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system in March 2025, targeting women without smartphone access.

This approach addresses the digital divide that often leaves the most vulnerable populations without support.

Broader Context

Established in 2017, the Gender and Justice Unit is a feminist organization focusing on legal empowerment as a catalyst for gender equality and social justice.

The app launch coincides with the global campaign theme "Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women & Girls."

Technical and Legal Challenges

Jimmy Kainja, a digital rights expert, also addressed the webinar, speaking on the role of the media in preventing and addressing tech-facilitated GBV.

Kainja, a senior lecturer at the University of Malawi, highlighted the gap between legal frameworks and public understanding of them.

"There's a huge gap between the legislation that we have, the mechanisms in place, and the public understanding," he said.

He argued that greater media attention to digital rights abuses is needed to raise public awareness, stimulate dialogue and encourage reporting of these crimes.

The app addresses multiple legal frameworks, including:

- The Data Protection Act

- E-Transactions Act

- Cyber Crimes Act

Future Implications

As technology increasingly becomes a platform for both the perpetration and prevention of gender-based violence, innovations like EmpowerLine represent critical interventions in protecting women's rights and safety.

The app is currently available for download on Android and iOS platforms, offering a potentially lifesaving resource for Malawian women navigating complex legal and social challenges.

Bridget Oscar Phiri, a development professional, also spoke at the event, sharing her experience of surviving cyberbullying.

Phiri stressed the need for survivor-centred approaches, advocating for solutions that address the specific needs and experiences of women from diverse backgrounds.

She also called for greater community involvement in preventing tech-facilitated GBV by challenging victim-blaming and holding perpetrators accountable.

Phiri endorsed the creation of confidential reporting mechanisms to improve survivor safety and agency.

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For more information, users can download the EmpowerLine app below:

App Store link and Google Play Store link

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