Global General

Zambia ushers in gender-based violence law

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-13 16:41
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LUSAKA - Zambian President Rupiah Banda has signed a new law meant to combat gender-based violence, with a senior official saying it was an indication that the government was committed to the protection of women's rights, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Friday.

The Zambian leader signed the new Gender-Based Violence Amendment Act on April 12, 2011 which was meant to address the abuse of not only women but men as well.

Todd Chilembo, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs, said the enactment of the law had proved government's commitment to the protection of women's rights hence the decision to assent to the bill, adding that government was aware of the various injustices women have experienced at the hands of men and that with the enactment of the law, the abuses will be addressed.

"The President attaches great importance to women's rights in the country and government is aware of the violence some women continue to experience at the hands of men," the official was quoted as saying by the paper.

He however stated that there should be no misunderstanding that the law was only meant to protect women but that it covered men who were abused by women and warned that the law will not hesitate to bring to book anyone abrogating the law by abusing women and children.

"This law is not only meant to protect women. Every offender will feel the wrath of the law, including women who abuse their husbands or partners," he added.

The law also provides for the formation of a gender-based violence committee to oversee issues of gender-based violence in the country.

Last year, the government launched a multimedia gender-based campaign which was aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence in the country.

Gender-based violence has become a problem in Zambia with the number of reported cases on the rise. According to figures, one in five women have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. Of all the forms of violence, spousal abuse/domestic violence was the highest form of abuse that was reported.

Statistics between 1998 and 2008 show that 22,893 cases of violence were reported. In total, 51,931 cases of gender-based violence have been reported between 1998 and 2008.

Among the reasons for gender-based violence include socio- economic problems, social norms, the low social status of women and their inability to negotiate for safer sex.

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