Zambia ranks 20th among countries with high GBV cases

Zambia is ranked number 20 among countries in the world with the highest cases of gender based violence (GBV.

Vice President Inonge Wina has revealed that 43 percent of women aged between 15 and 49 years in Zambia have experienced physical Violence, while only 43 percent have sought help, a situation he described as worrying.

In a speech read on her behalf by Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula during the opening of the lawyer’s gender based violence awareness meeting in Lusaka today, Ms Wina says there is little that has been done to fight the prevailing Gender Based Violence in the country.

She says despite the enactment of the Anti gender based violence Act number 1 of 2011, cases of GBV have shown no signs of reducing.

Ms Wina says it is for this reason that government is working with the traditional leaders in ensuring that cases of GBV are reduced.

She states that GBV is one of the biggest challenges the country is facing right now and is negatively impacting on women and girls.

The Vice President says the meeting is therefore timely as more information would be gathered in addressing the high GBV cases in the country.

And Law Association of Zambia LAZ President George Chisanga has assured the Government that the association will continue to build capacity amongst lawyers to be able to handle GBV cases especially as they relate to enforcing civil remedies which are provided under the anti-GBV Act number 1 of 2011.

He says the country recorded 15,153 GBV cases in 2014 which calls for the urgent need to reduce the increasing cases of GBV in the country.

And European Union delegation Charge’d’ Affairs, Rune Skinnebeach says the EU will continue to uphold the principle that the human rights of women and the girl-child are an integral and indivisible party of universal human rights.

Mr. Skinnebeach says the EU will continue to support Zambia in its efforts to combat gender based violence and keeping the issue on the agenda.