Take up activism against GBV

THREE days into the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) more voices have spoken out against vice with a call to the public to take up the fight.
President Edgar Lungu says government is resolved to fight GBV as it has been a hindrance to national development.
The President also said there is need for strong support systems so that victims of GBV do not withdraw the cases before they are con-cluded by the courts of law.
He has since thanked the traditional leaders and other stakeholders for their role in the fight against GBV.
The Head of State said this in a speech read by Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri during the national launch of the Sixteen Days of Activ-ism against GBV.
The theme for this year is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect.”
The Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia , who is also Mfuwe Member of Parliament, Mwimba Malama participated in the 2020 Commemoration of Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence on Wednesday 25th November, 2020 at the Free-dom Statue in Lusaka.
Speaking at the same event, chairperson of the Non-Governmental Gender Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Mary Mulenga said her organization is concerned with the increasing cases of Political Violence.
Mrs. Mulenga said this trend is stopping several women from taking part in politics.
The acts of violence around party politics has been a deterrent to women participation, and we applaud all the organisations actively lob-bying for more women’s participation.
Various developmental programmes are implemented by government in collaboration with UN agencies and other non-governmental organisa-tions.
The Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa (COTLA), in association with UN Women and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also reiterated its solidarity and commitment to promoting gender equality and to ending all forms of GBV against women and girls.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that brings awareness to gender inequity, domestic violence, and abuse against women and girls.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN ARE TO:
i. Raise awareness about violence against women and girls as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels;
ii. Strengthen local work around violence against women and girls;
iii. Establish a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women;
iv. Provide a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies to eliminate Gender Based Violence issues; and
v. Demonstrate the solidarity of women and girls around the world in organising against violence against them.
According to the Zambia Police Service Zambia has recorded 19.8% increase in the number of GBV cases countrywide during the third quar-ter of 2020 compared to the same period last year.
“This year has been a challenging one for the people of Africa. The COVID-19 lockdowns with associated mobility restrictions have led to food shortages, unemployment, economic insecurity, school closures and an increase in GBV. Many have lost their livelihoods, which has in-creased stress levels for families, in particular women-headed households experiencing nutrition insecurity and the inability to access medical care, with reduced maternal check-ups,” a statement from the UN reads.
“As the world retreated inside homes due to the lockdown measures introduced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, reports showed an alarm-ing increase in the already existing pandemic of violence against women. We have been alarmed at the increase in violence against women and girls and its consequences. Intimate partner violence is on the rise and because of mobility restrictions, many survivors cannot access health services, counselling or police protection. Long-term closure of schools and tertiary institutions due to COVID-19 has interrupted education, exposing girls to a greater risk of GBV, child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), unintended pregnancies, and HIV infection with lim-ited or no access to reproductive health services. The disruption of health services has prevented many women and girls from enjoying sexual and reproductive health and exercising their reproductive rights, limiting their access to critical services such as maternal health.
“Limited economic opportunities are likely to increase child labour and exploitation of women and girls, including sexual exploitation and abuse.
“As COTLA members, we are not simply bystanders in this. Rather, traditional and religious leaders across the continent are active advo-cates for laws to end child marriage, FGM and other harmful practices. We have taken action to stop child marriage in our communities and we are champions of girls’ access to education. Since the launch of COTLA in 2019 supported by UN Women and under the auspices of His Excellency Edgar Lungu, President of Zambia, more than 157 chiefs have banned FGM. Religious leaders in some countries have issued decrees and by-laws to end FGM and child marriage.”
The onus to fight GBV is on individuals and leaders and not just for 16 days but every day.