PR: GBV Cases increase in Zambia, CARE Calls for More support to Combat the Scourge

-

 

Reported Cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) are increasing in Zambia. According to Zambia Police Third Quarter of 2022 GBV Report, there has been over a 100% (8,790) increase in the GBV cases reported in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to 4,042 cases reported during the same period in 2021. Of the reported cases 76% (6,683) were women and girls.

 

Chikwe Mbweeda, CARE Zambia Country Director said, “The increased number of GBV cases reported can be attributed to people becoming more aware of GBV and gaining confidence in the reporting systems on one hand; and the other, food insecurity which has been worsened by job losses, high levels of unemployment, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change effects which have left people, especially women and girls vulnerable”. 

 

Speaking during the launch of the 16 days of activism on November 25, 2022, Hon. Brenda Tambatamba,
Minister of Labor and Social Security said, violence against women and girls is a great violation of their rights and that it has both immediate and long-term consequences in relation to their physical, sexual, and mental well-being. 

 

“Tackling Gender-Based Violence effectively will contribute to human and social development as stated in the 8th National Development Plan, particularly development outcome number 2 on improving the rule of law, human rights, and constitutionalism,” Hon. Brenda Tambatamba said 

 

Speaking after the launch of the 16 days of activism, Ms. Mbweeda said that CARE Zambia is working towards a Zambia which is free from violence by 2030. This means there should be more commitment to work that addresses the root causes of gender-based inequalities through the transformation of restrictive legal, social-cultural, religious, and political norms and structures to empower women and girls as they become more assertive to make choices that affect their lives.

 

She further extended gratitude to the government of Zambia for creating an inclusive environment for partners as tackling this vice requires concerted efforts of all stakeholders including men and boys as change agents.

 

“Government is committed to working with the church, traditional leaders, non-governmental organizations, and cooperating partners to tackle the vice,” Hon. Brenda said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sudan's Silent Suffering: Urgent Action Required to Remedy Worsening Situation

-
Image
CARE Sudan's Country Director Abdirahman visited a CARE-supported clinic. CARE International in Sudan. Abdirahman Ali, CARE Sudan's Country Director, issued this statement to draw urgent attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan. In his recent visit to Kassala, Abdirahman saw the plight of the internally displaced people, after fleeing conflict from Sinnar and Sinjah, with temporary homes and limited basic needs. Abdirahman was uniquely positioned to witness the unfolding humanitarian disaster firsthand while understanding the broader implications and needs.   "Muna, a 43-year-old woman displaced from Sennar, exemplifies the suffering we're witnessing," said Abdirahman Ali CARE Sudan's Country Director. "She along with her husband, who is an amputee, and five children and thousands of others fled the conflict with nothing. They now face unimaginable conditions – lack of food, clean water, and sanitation – in makeshift camps in overcrowded sc
Read more

Khadija: A Beacon of Hope for Girls' Education in Somalia

-
Image
CARE supports girls in Somalia to access education and to stay in school. At just 16, Khadija* has achieved something remarkable: she became the top student in Jubaland state, Somalia, in the national Grade 8 exams. Her success is a personal victory and a powerful testament to the transformative impact of the Girls' Education and Empowerment Program (GEEPS) in Somalia. One that may not have been reali z ed due to circumstances beyond her control.     Khadija , born into a big family in Kismayo, knows firsthand the struggles girls face in Somalia. Education is a distant dream for many girls, held back by poverty, droughts, early marriage, the constant threat of conflict, dwindling resources that forced parents to prioritize boys' education, and harmful traditions that kept them from reaching their potential. Khadija 's goal of becoming a teacher seemed almost unattainable , overshadowed by her community's harsh realities of life.     "I used to watch other girls
Read more

DRC: Local Women group's advocacy influencing the health center to be built

-
Image
By Alice Bikuba, CARE DRC Reporting and Communication Officer. Fabiola Kambere in her field at Sake/CARE International in DRC. “I am more than a rural woman because through the Village Savings  Loan Association Network I take part in advocating for my community and results are visible.” - Fabiola, Faida Yetu VSLAN   Fabiola is a member of the Faida Yetu Network of Village Savings and Credit Associations (VSLAN) set up by CARE's Gender Equality Women Empowerment Program (GEWEP) in 2019. The Faida Yetu RAVEC, of which Fabiola is a member, is made up of women who advocate for the implementation of the joint plan to improve the health center (CS) in Kaduki (Sake). This advocacy led to the mobilization  of funds to purchase a plot and i nfluence the direction of funding from the health structure development program (PDSS) to the construction of a maternity building, a placenta pit, and a latrine at CS Kaduki.   These advocacy actions are carried out in the context of supporting the impl
Read more