● our work
Our four key programmatic areas
At the Gender and Justice Unit, we bridge the gap between the law as written — and justice as experienced. Our work centers on women and marginalized communities, with a focus on transforming legal systems through empowerment, community-led advocacy, and structural reform.
● OUR WORK
We turn legal theory into community power through advocacy, research, and strategic action
At the Gender and Justice Unit, we believe justice must be lived — not just written into law. That’s why we work hand in hand with communities in Malawi to make the law accessible, actionable, and responsive to those who need it most.
Through legal empowerment, feminist advocacy, and strategic partnerships, we support women facing violence and the frontline workers who respond to them. We also lead research, offer technical assistance, and collaborate across sectors to drive structural change — from the ground up.
(1) Legal Empowerment
At GJU, we believe legal empowerment is a fundamental step toward achieving gender justice and social equity. Our programs are designed to make the law accessible, understandable, and actionable for all — especially women and marginalized communities.
(2) Strategic Partnerships
We work with feminist movements, civil society, and legal institutions to advance justice.
Together, we advocate for gender-responsive policy, amplify excluded voices, and co-create solutions to intersecting issues like environmental and social justice. Strategic partnerships help us drive change from the ground up.
(3) Research, Writing & Advocacy
Law must be rooted in lived experience.
GJU conducts legal research and advocacy grounded in feminist and decolonial principles. We:
• Produce research that centers the realities of women and LGBTQ+ people
• Submit legal analyses to inform public debate and policymaking
• Amplify survivor voices and community-based knowledge
• Develop accessible legal resources
Our work challenges dominant narratives and contributes to systemic transformation.
(4) Technical Assistance
We support frontline service providers, local authorities, and institutions with expert guidance to strengthen their response to gender-based violence and legal injustice.
Our support includes:
• Training traditional leaders, victim support units, and local service providers
• Providing legal interpretation and policy briefings
• Advising on systems and protocols for survivor-centered justice
• Facilitating cross-sector collaboration and learning
We focus on legal empowerment as one of the most powerful tools for advancing gender equality and social justice
● Our work is making a difference across Malawi
women and girls reached with legal support and counselling
downloads of the free EmpowerLine App
service providers trained on GBV laws and survivor-centered response
community focal points equipped to support local cases
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