Mozambique: Graça Machel criticises the trivialisation of domestic violence

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Mozambique: Graça Machel criticises the trivialisation of domestic violence

2:27 CAT | 08 Sep 2020

Photo: O País

Mozambican social activist Graça Machel on Thursday criticised the trivialisation of domestic violence in the country, advocating education for equality and human dignity regardless of gender.

“Violence against women cannot be seen as normal, as has been happening in our society,” Graça Machel said at a lecture on the “Role of churches in moralising society” promoted by the Anglican church.

Inequality in relations between men and women was harmful both to the development of society and the well-being of its members, she said, and Mozambican society could not remain indifferent to gender-based violence.

“When a woman dies from domestic violence, it cannot be another case which will simply go away; one must repudiate it with all one’s strength,” she said.

Graça Machel criticised the “silence” of the churches in the face of the suffering of Mozambican women, pointing out that the moral authority of these institutions demanded the exposing and raising of awareness of domestic violence.

Several institutions have warned of an increase in domestic violence in Mozambique as a result of the social confinement imposed under Covid-19 state of emergency regulations.