Inter Press Service - December 5, 2008
Danstan Kaunda

She stressed the fact that gender-based violence (GBV) is a direct indicator of how well a country fares with regard to poverty reduction and human rights.

According to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Zambia report of 2007, violence against women and children has increased drastically in the country within the last few years.

Statistics show, for example, that sexual violence against women has risen fivefold in the last four years to more than 1,500 rape cases.

This is why a number of non-governmental organisations, such as the Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) and NGOCC, launched a Yellow Ribbon campaign a couple of weeks ago to increase awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

The campaign is aimed at improving women's rights by lobbying government to reform and strengthen national legislation on gender violence. For example, NGOs are asking government to include CEDAW provisions, such as the establishment of protection of women's rights in decision-making in national laws.

Zambian gender activists call for the establishment of national tribunals to fight gender discrimination and sensitise the general public, policy-makers and law enforcement officials about women's rights.

They also say the country needs higher numbers of women in positions of power, in business as well as in politics. Zambia is a signatory to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union protocols that commit to attaining 50 percent participation of men and women in political decision-making. However, this stipulation is not yet reflected in the country's political setting.

NGOs part of the Yellow Ribbion campaign demand a stronger government response to protect and promote women's rights and gender equality.

ZNWL chairperson Tamala Kambikambi said that, "the fight against gender violence should not be left only to civil society. There is need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including government, to find the root causes of such violence."

As part of the Yellow Ribbon campaign, the ZNWL recently formed a Men's Network Project that is specifically aimed at integrating men in the quest for gender equality.

"We want to incorporate the male voice in advancing equal participation of men and women in gender equality and particularly in decision-making positions," Kambikambi said. "We can successfully fight GBV without including men in the process."

The men's network meets on a regular basis in different communities to discuss gender violence as well as men's roles and responsibilities within society.

Zambia's increase in GBV recently received attention from international donors. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zambia, in collaboration with the Irish, Netherlands and Norway governments, has set-up a $5 million trust fund to support the implementation of gender programmes within in the country. The money will go towards government as well as NGO initiatives.

The fund has been established to speed up Zambia's progress in reaching Millennium Development Goal (MDG) goal three that aims to realise gender equality and women's empowerment by 2015.

"The scourge of gender violence has continued in our homes and communities. We cannot allow this situation to go on. That's why we have established a fund to support gender programmes," explained UNDP country coordinator Macleod Nyirondo. "Violence against women takes place in many forms, including rape, defilement and wife beating."

Nyirondo said lack of collaboration between government and civil society has resulted in poor implementation of gender programmes in the country, which is why the newly established fund was making money available to both government and NGO projects.

One NGO to benefit from the fund is Lusaka-based Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), which runs a number of crisis centres that offers shelter as well as psychotherapy and legal advice to abused women.

"Our shelters provide a safe haven for abused women and their children who are in violent situations. We also provide HIV counselling and treatment," said YWCA crisis centre programme officer Mary Sinyinda.

According to countrywide data collected by YWCA, the number of GBV cases reported to the NGOs centres has more than doubled within a year. "Because of cultural norms in this country, men think it is normal to beat their wives," Sinyinda said.

At the YWCA crisis centre in Lusaka's Libala township, Doreen (22) was physically abused by her husband and then tested HIV-positive when she found shelter at the centre. She has been receiving counselling and treatment for several months and says she is afraid of returning to her husband and revealing her HIV status.

"Cultural beliefs are the biggest obstacle to fighting gender violence," she told IPS, noting that the situation won't change without government and traditional leadership taking a firm stand against those who perpetrate violence against women and children.

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+ Q&A: Escalating Violence Against Women in Swaziland (http://www.aegis.org/news/ips/2008/IP081109.html)

+ RIGHTS-ZIMBABWE: Activists Demand Justice for Politically-Motivated Rapes (http://ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=44722 )

+ POLITICS-SWAZILAND: A Woman With Swagger (http://ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=44397 )

+ Q&A: Fistula Turns Women Into Outcasts (http://ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=44374 )

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