MEN’S NETWORK UPS ANTI-GBV DRIVE

THE Zambia National Men’s Network for Gender and Development (ZNMNGD) yesterday launched the ‘Trusted Men’ campaign aimed at mobilising men and boys to fight the escalating cases of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the country.

This follows the Zambia Police Service revelation that 6, 139 GBV cases were recorded in the second quarter of 2019 out of which 583 were defilements.

ZNMNGD national coordinator Nelson Banda said SGBV was a serious public health challenge which must be dealt with starting at family level.

Mr Banda said the campaign was targeting to reach out to the men and boys, as they had an important role in the fight against SGBV.

“The campaign would reach

out to men as they were influential to convince fellow men across communities to change their negative attitudes towards women and girls and begin to challenge the socialisation process, including dealing with retrogressive cultural practices that hinder women and girls from reaching their full potential.

“The campaign the first of its kind is aimed at mobilising men and boys from all walks of life and backgrounds to fight SGBV. Boys, especially are being targeted with the view of catching them whilst they are young so that they can grow up in to the responsible and gender sensitive men of tomorrow to play a critical role in defending and protecting women and girls rights in homes, communities, schools and the country at large ,” Mr Banda said.

The campaign was launched in Chongwe’s Makoka Village, a settlement which has high incidents of SGBV, where a group of transformed men from the ZNMNGD Chongwe Chapter were also present to share their life changing testimonies regarding SGBV.

The ZNMNGD Chongwe Chapter working with the residents organised the launch in their continued effort to raise awareness and fight SGBV which is devastating families hampering productivity at household levels as women and girls have to deal with the impact of the vice.