Minister of Gender and Child Development Inonge Wina says there is need for people to break the silence and spread messages against Gender Based Violence.
Ms Wina said this over the weekend when she officiated at the launch of the “I care about her” campaign where over 500 men matched in commemoration of the 16 days of gender activism from Levy Park to new government complex in Lusaka.
The Minister of Gender said the campaign shows the commitment that men have realised the need to change their negative attitude towards women and girls by treating them with respect as equal members of society.
She said the “I care about her” campaign seeks to cultivate the sense of responsibility in men to protect their families and society by building a better world for women they care for.
Ms Wina said government will endeavour to ensure that a serious and resounding warning is sent to all those who want to perpetrate Gender Based Violence in Zambia.
She said government will work with all security wings to ensure that perpetrators of gender violence are brought to book.
The minister also stated that her ministry has pledged full support in partnership with men by ensuring that they are involved in curbing violence against women and girls.
And Oxfam Country Director Nellie Nyang’wa said it is sad to note that the media continues to carry horrific stories of violence against women, girls and children.
Ms Nyang’wa said it is worrying to see that violent acts are mostly done with impunity by people who are supposed to be protectors.
She observed that manhood is under serious disrepute adding that it is time to defend and fight for genuine manhood.
She said Oxfam has confidence that there are good men around who have been silenced by different social forces that have been inculcated in them.
She said Oxfam has chosen to support men in fighting GBV because they want to change the wrong thinking about women.
Ms Nyang’wa noted that the “I care about her” campaign is meant to create a platform where men out there who are feeling the pain of the violence can create a movement for change.
She argued men not to keep quite but take action and stop the vice.
Meanwhile Young Women Christian Association Men’s representative Raymond Havwala said the 500 men decided to match today to emphasises their commitment and support for the 16 days of Gender Activism under a theme “ Gender Based Violence; Zero Tolerance Now!”.
Mr Havwala said the 500 men have pledged to take action against early marriages, beating women and girls, rape and defilement in Zambia with zero tolerance actions.
He said beating women, defiling little girls is not a culture and does not signify manhood but shows cowardliness and in-human among men.
Mr Havwala further called on men to step up, respect and protect women and girls in society.
The 500 men match saw the support from Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu, Police Deputy Inspector General Solomon Jere among other government officials and representatives who joined in the match.
ZANIS
I am sure he is listening.
this is all fruitless and nonsense when people are starving and jobless..!
Ukwa wamvela chipuba iwe? Chindika bamayo.
You are an ***** fool.
Did they MATCH or MARCH? Were 500 men matched to 500 women or what?
Beautiful Afro…I like her style when every Zambian woman wants to look like muzungu with all the extensions and wigs around. Here is Inonge with pure Afro…Wicked!(meaning nice one)
Taliban. You would rather have women in employment with plenty of food on the table, but being battered, raped and their children being difiled? Some levels of reasoning are really shocking!
Hey guys lets go to BBC African football in numbers and vote for Chris Katongo for African Footballer of the year 2012. There are only 5 shortlisted names and results will be announced on Dec 13, 2012. Let us not allow our friends outvote our man! You can vote on BBC African Football page or send a text message The winner will be decided by African football fans, who have until 1830 GMT on Thursday, 13 December to vote for their choice.
“You can either vote via this page or by sending an SMS from your phone to +44 7786 20 50 75:
Text 1 for Demba Ba
Text 2 for Younes Belhanda
Text 3 for Didier Drogba
Text 4 for Christopher Katongo
Or Text 5 for Yaya Toure”
Number 7 (iye) you are so backward, who doesn’t know about this BBC thing? we are fed up and people have already voted, why you show your ignorance on an important topic about our sweet women, u are the people that Rape ur own daughters. Inonge is too old and must resign on moral grounds,she also looks no well fed. my foreign friends here in the diaspora are laughing at me when i told them this lady above is a minister in my country.
What ‘moral grounds’ are you talking about.
I like this website very much, Its a very nice office to read and get info . “Anyone can stop a man’s life, but no one his death a thousand doors open on to it. – Phoenissae” by Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
Indeed GBV is a nightmare, lets join hands and fight it to the last minute.