POLICE spokesperson Esther Katongo says Zambia has recorded 4,409 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the second quarter of 2020, down from over 6,000 during the same period last year.

In a statement, Tuesday, Katongo stated that this represented a decline of 1,730 cases over the period under review.

She stated that 1,256 children were abused countrywide, representing 28 per cent of all the victims of GBV.

“During the second quarter of 2020, 4,409 cases of GBV were recorded by police. The second quarter of 2020 gender victims disaggregated data indicates that 1,256 children were abused countrywide, representing 28 per cent of all the victims of Gender-Based Violence. Out of the 1,256 child victims, 999 were girls, representing 80 per cent, while 257 were boys, representing 20 per cent of all abused child victims, respectively. The statistics further indicate that 2,356 were female adult victims, while 797 were male adult victims, representing 53.4 per cent and 18.1 per cent, respectively,” Katongo stated.

“A comparison with the second quarter of 2019, 6,139 GBV cases were recorded last year compared to 4,409 recorded during the second quarter of 2020 showing a decrease by 1,730 cases, translating to a 28.2 per cent decrease. Under sexual abuse, 795 cases of sexual offences were recorded, representing 18 per cent of all the reported cases. Out of 795 reported cases, 596 victims were girls, translating to 74.9 per cent, 173 victims were female adults, translating to 21.8 per cent; 16 victims were boys, translating to two per cent, while 10 victims were male adults, translating to 1.3 per cent.”

She stated that 554 cases of child defilement were recorded in the second quarter.

“A total of 554 cases of child defilement [were recorded], all girls were recorded, representing 12.6 per cent of all the reported GBV cases. Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of child defilement cases with 206, translating to 37.2 per cent of the child defilement cases reported countrywide. Central Province recorded 79 cases, translating to 14.3 per cent, followed by Eastern Province with 72 cases, translating to 13 per cent; Copperbelt Province had 44 cases, translating to 7.9 per cent and Southern Province recorded 43 cases, translating to 7.8 per cent of the reported defilement cases,” she narrated.

“Other provinces are Northern, 29 cases, representing 5.2 per cent; Luapula, 24, representing 4.3 per cent; North-Western, 21, representing 3.8 per cent; Muchinga, 20, representing 3.6 per cent, while Western Province had 16 reported cases, representing 2.9 per cent.”

She stated that 115 rape cases and 12 attempted rape cases were recorded, while 24 GBV murder cases were recorded.

“115 rape and 12 attempted rape cases were recorded during the period under review. The country also recorded 55 cases of indecent assault out of which 26 victims were women, 20 girls, seven men and two were boys. 12 cases of incest were recorded in which 10 were women and 2 were girl victims. Under physical abuse, the country recorded 2,082 cases, translating to 47.2 per cent of the reported cases of which 327, translating to 15.7 percent were male victims; 1,601 cases, translating to 76.9 per cent were females; 78 cases, translating to 3.8 per cent were girls and 76 cases, translating to 3.7 percent were boys,” she stated.

“Further, during the period under review, the country recorded 24 GBV murder cases compared to 20 recorded in the second quarter in 2019, showing an increase by four cases or 16.7 per cent increase. The 24 murder cases recorded represent 0.5 per cent of all the reported cases out of which 12 victims were female adults, translating to 50 per cent; 11 male adults, translating to 45.8 per cent and one girl, translating to 4.2 per cent.”

She said 1,756 cases of assault OABH were recorded countrywide, representing 39.8 per cent of the reported GBV cases, with Lusaka Province recording the highest.

“1,756 cases of assault OABH were recorded countrywide, representing 39.8 per cent of the reported GBV cases. Out of the 1,756 cases of Assault OABH, 1,475 translating to 84 per cent were female victims, while 281, translating to 16 per cent were male victims. Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of assault OABH cases with 420 representing 23.9 per cent of all reported Assault OABH cases followed by Central Province, which recorded 301 cases, representing to 17.1 per cent and Copperbelt with 212, representing 12.1 per cent of all assault OABH cases reported countrywide,” she stated.

“Others are Eastern, 206 cases, representing 11.7 per cent; Muchinga had 186, representing 10.6 per cent; Western had 151 cases, representing 8.6 per cent; Southern recorded 90 cases, representing 5.1 per cent. North-Western, 82 cases, at 4.7 per cent; Luapula had 50 cases at 2.9 per cent and Tazara Division, 31 cases, at 1.8 per cent; Northern recorded 23 cases at 1.3 per cent and Airport Division recorded four cases, representing 0.2 per cent of all the reported Assault OABH cases. Under economic abuse: 452 cases of failing to provide necessaries of life and 351 cases of Neglecting to Provide Necessaries were recorded, translating to 10.3 per cent and 7.9 per cent of reported cases, respectively.”

Katongo said that out of 4,409 GBV cases reported countrywide, 963 cases were taken to court resulting in 131 convictions.

“Out of 4,409 GBV cases reported countrywide, 963 cases, translating to 21.8 per cent were taken to court resulting in 131 convictions or 13.6 per cent; 32 acquittals, translating to 3.3 per cent; 101 cases were withdrawn from court, representing 10.5 per cent and 699 are still under investigations. 1,636 cases were withdrawn at various police stations. A comparison with 2019 second quarter statistics on sexual violence, 583 cases of defilement were reported in 2019 compared to 554 cases reported during the second quarter of 2020 with a difference of 29 cases, translating to a 4.9 per cent decrease. Assault OABH cases have remained constant at 1,756 during the second quarters of 2019 and 2020 respectively,” explained Katongo.

“Under emotional and psychological abuse: 158 cases, translating to 3.6 per cent of the total number of GBV cases were recorded; 119 cases, translating to 75.3 per cent were females; 37 cases, translating to 23.4 per cent were males, while one case of a boy and one case of a girl were recorded, translating to 0.6 per cent, respectively.”