First Lady calls for establishment of more GBV fast track courts

First Lady Esther Lungu

First Lady Esther Lungu has observed the need for government through the Ministry of Justice to establish more fast track courts in other parts of the country, especially in provincial and district centers.

Speaking after the Medical Association of Zambia March against Gender based Violence and Sexual Violence against Children in Zambia in Lusaka today, Mrs. Lungu says the number of Gender Based Violence and Violence against Children cases has been on the increase in Zambia and the latest most horrifying incident has gone viral.

Mrs. Lungu says given this background, there is an urgent need to empower service providers, especially health workers, the police and prosecutors with the necessary knowledge and skills in the management of cases of GBV and Sexual Violence against Children.

She says more One-Stop-Centres in the district hospitals where such facilities are non-existent need to be established, to add up to the current 28 One Stop Centres across the country.

She adds that the Zambian Government and its stakeholders should support the Zambia Police with logistics especially transport to enable them investigate cases of Gender Based Violence and Sexual Violence against Children at the scenes of crime.

Mrs. Lungu explains that sexual violence against Children and women does not only threaten national development but is also a stumbling block to the proper growth and development of the children and the lives of women.

The First Lady states that President Edgar Lungu and the Government are determined to change this trend of Sexual Violence against Children and women given the measure that have been put in place.