Women for Change, a non-governmental organisation has embarked on a stakeholder mapping exercise in Muchinga Province to boost the fight against Gender-Based Violence.
The initiative is part of the Spotlight project, which aims to eradicate violence against women and girls in the region.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting, Women for Change Project Officer, Charles Sichali, stated that the exercise will identify key GBV actors for specialised training across three chiefdoms in Chinsali and two in Isoka district.
Mr Sichali emphasized that the upcoming training will ensure community interventions remain sustainable and accelerate local awareness campaigns.
He said the organisation desires to strengthen coordination at community level in order to bridge the gap that are in existence at grassroot level.
” Women for change has been working so far in 21 districts and we are excited to be here in Muchinga Province for a noble course that is being supported by the Government of Ireland in partnership with the Zambian Government,” he added.
Mr Sichali said the project promotes inclusive multi – stakeholders to share experiences, identify challenges and develop practical solutions that respond to the realities faced by women and girls in communities.
And speaking during the official opening of the meeting held at Katachi lodge in Chinsali district yesterday, Acting Chinsali District who was presented by Chinsali District Health Director Services Dr Edward Sikazwe said gender issues are at the center of government priority agenda.
Ms Brenda Silwembe said women and girls have continued to experience various forms of violence which is why government was always thriving to work with different cooperating partners in a bid to end the vice.
She said GBV was commonly high and evident in rural communities where harmful cultural practices, unequal power relations and limited awareness of rights continue to perpetuate Gender Based Violence.
The Acting DC noted that Government recognises that ending violence against women and girls requires collective action, hence making this collaborative meeting an important one in the fight against all forms of GBV.
Ms Silwembe charged that strong partnerships among Government Institutions, Civil Society Organisations, Traditional and Faith leaders, Community structures, youth and women groups including developing partners was needed.
” No single institution can work alone if we are to ensuring that this challenge of GBV is effectively addressed,” she said.
She further commended Women for Change organisation for championing the fight against GBV and organising such initiatives that seeks to build the capacity of women’s rights advocates to develop evidence based and cost action plan while strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems.
And Muchinga Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Brian Sichande reaffirmed Government’s commitment towards creating an enabling environment for all stakeholders working to eliminate GBV across the province and the country at large.
Mr Sichande noted that the role of provincial administration is to ensure that government policies and programmes are fully implemented and reach the intended targets including the marginalized groups such as Women, Youths and Persons with Disabilities.
” We shall support this project just as we have done with other implementers under the Spotlight initiative project,” he added.
The Spotlight initiative project 2.0 is currently running in two provinces of Zambia namely Muchinga and Eastern and is being implemented in four districts with Muchinga having two, Chinsali and Isoka.
