Violence Against Women
Source: Times of Zambia
GOVERNMENT has condemned the rising cases of women being killed by their spouses resulting from gender-based violence (GBV).
Gender and Child Development Division (GIDD) Deputy Minister, Emerine Kabanshi said at a Press briefing in Lusaka that Government would ensure zero-tolerance to GBV.
The deputy minister said the Government would not engage in rhetoric but be practical.
"A few weeks ago, President Michael Sata signed a declaration on gender-based sexual violence, thereby committing the nation to attaining zero-tolerance on gender- based violence in the Great Lakes Region and Zambia in particular," she said.
Ms Kabanshi said the Government had gone further to review, enact and adopt non-discriminatory policies and legislation to deal with GBV.
"A greater milestone we have made as a country is the recent enactment of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act NO 1 of 2011, which among other things, seeks to protect victims of GBV," she said.
She said it was disheartening that most victims of GBV were women, saying in December last year alone, three women were killed by their spouses in cold blood.
She said in the first quarter of 2011, the Victim Support Unit recorded 2,028 cases of GBV.
"Violence against women is a pervasive human rights problem and gone are the days when Government viewed domestic disputes as a private matter between individuals," she said.
Ms Kabanshi, however, said the law on its own would not help achieve the much desired levels of attaining zero tolerance to GBV.
She said change of peoples' mindset was needed.
"I am, therefore, pleading to both men and women to respect each other. Let us learn to dialogue and communicate. Let us learn to practice tolerance and patience," she said.