Blantyre, 19 January, 2025 / 9:30 pm (ACI Africa).
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has initiated a review of its Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy to strengthen measures aimed at protecting minors and vulnerable adults from abuse in the Southern African nation.
In a report following the review exercise that took place from January 14 to 16 at the Catholic Secretariat of Lilongwe Archdiocese, the ECM Chairman for Safeguarding emphasized the Church’s responsibility to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.
“The Church in Malawi carries this responsibility with great care and dedication. Let us all work together to build a culture of safeguarding that permeates every corner of our society,” Bishop Peter Adrian Chifukwa said in the report published Friday, January 17.
The Local Ordinary of Malawi’s Catholic Diocese of Dedza added, “With God’s guidance, may we create safe and nurturing environments for all, especially for the most vulnerable among us.”
Bishop Chifukwa encouraged safeguarding officers and stakeholders to educate the faithful on safeguarding issues. He noted that safeguarding should not be limited to policies and institutions but should become a cultural norm, beginning in households and extending to communities.