The Zambian government has partnered with the International Conference of Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to train 10 nationals on prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Uganda.

Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Dr Auxilia Ponga, in a statement, said the training was aimed at equipping trainers with knowledge and skills on how best to handle SGBV at various levels in different institutions.

“Zambia is a party to the International Conference of the Great Lakes Regions, it is for this reason that the ICGLR Training Centre in Uganda, in conjunction with the Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised this training. The training is to provide practical and effective mechanisms of reducing SGBV in member states using a multi-sectoral approach,” Dr Ponga stated.

Dr Ponga stated that her Ministry staff and staff ICGLR were in a session working on strategic forms of communication and activities to be undertaken during the 2018-2019 period.

She stated that GBV was a major hindrance to the country’s attainment of gender equality as well as the realisation of social and economic goals of the nation.

“This kind of GBV has received a lot of media attention because it is not a common cultural practice for women to be violent. Despite this gloomy picture, reports have continued indicating that women are more vulnerable to GBV than men. Research needs to be undertaken to understand this turn of events as well as the increased number of men not just battering their wives, but killing them. Research will help us make appropriate interventions,” stated Dr Ponga.

She bemoaned the continued soaring of GBV cases in the country, with the first quarter of 2018 recording 5,940 cases.

And Dr Ponga stated that her Ministry had commenced the review of the Anti-GBV Act with the National Law Development Commission with a view to enhance the implementation of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code.