Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika spoke on the state radio this week, stating: “I will not allow anyone to wake up and go on the streets and start undressing women and girls wearing trousers, because that is illegal. Every woman and girl has the right to dress the way they wish.” The President has also ordered police to arrest anyone attacking women for their dress. His staunch remarks come shortly after women in Lilongwe and Blantyre were attacked on the streets for wearing short skirts and trousers. The street vendors accused of the attacks reportedly said they were enforcing a government decree, however Malawi revoked all laws on dress code for women and men in the 1990s.
There are marches and protests planned by local women’s groups for Friday, 27 January to show support for the women who were attacked.
Compiled from: Malawi Orders Halt to Stripping Attacks on Women, TrustLaw (19 January 2012).