The Non-Governmental Gender Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC), emphasized the need for increased community policing to address the rising cases of gender-based violence in Zambia.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, NGOCC Chairperson Grace Sinkamba, highlighted the alarming increase in reported gender-based violence cases, shedding light on the prevalence of rape within families, incest, defilement, and spousal abuse.
She noted that while there is a growing number of reported cases, many incidents still go unreported due to a long-standing culture of silence surrounding such matters.
Acknowledging the positive shift in reporting trends, Sinkamba attributed the increase in reported cases to a changing attitude toward breaking the culture of silence. She expressed satisfaction in witnessing more individuals coming forward to report instances of abuse, especially concerning the abuse of children, and encouraged neighbours to report any suspicious activities.
Sinkamba emphasized the importance of sensitizing communities and children to understand that gender-based violence should not be normalized and should be reported.
Sinkamba appealed to the government to take decisive action in supporting the fight against gender-based violence, calling for the construction of shelters in all districts of the country and the operationalization of the Gender-Based Violence Fund.
She also urged the general public to report cases, stressing the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
“We are mindful of the fact that Zambia has had a culture of silence when it comes to cases of gender-based violence a lot of rape is occurring even within families, incest, defilement cases are occurring as well as a lot of wife battering and we are also aware that men also suffer gender-based violence but we cannot say how many cases, as a lot of these cases go unreported,” She said.
Meanwhile Sinkamba had appealed to Government that through the gender based violence act of 2011 to support the fight against gender based violence by ensuring that shelters are built in all districts of the country.She added that, Government should make operational the gender based violence fund.Ms. Sinkamba further appealed to the general public to report cases so that perpetrators are brought to book.E
