Government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at all levels of society.
Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba says the country is making efforts to ensure Gender Based Violence cases are tackled from all aspects of Society.
Mrs Mwamba was speaking in Livingstone when she officially opened the Southern Africa Heads of Prosecution Annual General Meeting (SAHOP AGM) being held at David Livingstone Lodge.
The high-level meeting, held under the theme “Innovative Criminal Justice Practices: Strengthening Regional Collaboration to Combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” brought together senior prosecutors from 15 Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states.
The Minister described the meeting as a crucial step toward addressing the rising tide of gender-based violence that continues to threaten the well-being and development of the region.
She noted that despite existing laws and reforms in many SADC countries, high rates of GBV persist due to social, cultural and institutional barriers.
Mrs Mwamba warned that prosecution efforts still face challenges and called on prosecution authorities in the region to explore innovative, inclusive and well-resourced approaches to justice.
And Director of Public Prosecution Gilbert Phiri has called on Southern African nations to urgently strengthen their criminal justice systems to combat gender-based violence (GBV), describing it as “one of the most pervasive human rights violations” in the region.
Mr Phiri highlighted the alarming rates of GBV across SADC, noting that harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation persist, disproportionately affecting adolescent girls and women.
And United Nations resident Coordinator Beatrice Muthali acknowledged the efforts Zambia has been making in addressing the rising cases of GBV.
Ms Muthali assured of the UN’s commitment and support towards ensuring that the vice is addressed.
