GBV: A Human Rights Violation

Gender-based violence (GBV) in Zambia has been recognized as a critical gender and human rights issue that needs to be addressed. Many women and girls face physical, emotional and sexual abuse that undermines their health and ability to earn a living, disrupts their social systems and relationships, and robs girls of their childhood and education. Broadly, key root causes of GBV are largely narrowed down to inequalities between women and men; and the associated aspects of masculinity and femininity resulting from patriarchal power imbalances embedded in many social and cultural norms. This imbalance often leads to pervasive stereotypes and attitudes that perpetuate the cycle of GBV.

Current Situation

Data from the most recent 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey highlights the following dimensions and hotspots:

• About 21% of women age 15-49 agree that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife for specific reasons (e.g. burns the food, argues with him, refuses to have sexual intercourse with him etc).
• The number of women who have experienced physical violence since age 15 is higher in rural areas (37%) than in urban areas (34%).
• Experience of physical violence increases with increasing age, from 21% among women age 15-19; to 45% among those aged 40-49.
• The likelihood of experiencing physical violence since age 15 is higher among women who are employed for cash (41%) than among those who are not employed (30%).

The Focus of UNFPA's Work

Informed by UNFPA’s global and regional Transformative Results, and in line with the Government of Zambia/UNFPA 9th Country Programme (2023-2027), UNFPA in Zambia works towards ending gender-based violence and harmful practices through five modes of engagement namely:

• Advocacy and policy dialogue: In Zambia, UNFPA continues to provide technical and financial support to national processes aimed at improving the policy and legal environment to protect women and girls. This has included the enactment of the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011; the review of the National Gender Policy (developed in 2014); and the development of National Guidelines for Integration of SRH/HIV/GBV. UNFPA also supports collective actions with national stakeholders aimed at intensifying resource mobilization efforts to scale up interventions for preventing and responding to GBV.
• Targeted service delivery: As part of the Government of Zambia/UN Joint Programme on GBV and the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to End Child Marriage, UNFPA empowers communities to develop high impact programmes that identify and build social and economic assets that reduce girl’s vulnerability to child marriage. UNFPA also supports the engagement of men and boys, traditional leaders and their spouses as key in facilitating community actions aimed at addressing GBV, including barriers to access services by survivors.
• Capacity development: UNFPA supports the strengthening of national health systems in the integration of GBV response within existing reproductive health package of services. This has included capacity building of Health Care Providers on how to identify, treat and care for survivors of GBV in health facilities
• Knowledge management: UNFPA provides support to the Government of Zambia towards the generation and utilization of disaggregated data to guide improved policy and legal environment for protection of women and girls at risk of GBV, including child marriage. UNFPA also supports the undertaking of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to assess unfulfilled SRHR of women and girls.
• Partnerships and coordination: UNFPA partners with the Government of Zambia, donors and key stakeholders towards investing in bold initiatives to reach marginalized women and girls affected and at risk of violence and child marriage. These partnerships are premised on women’s rights as enshrined in existing human rights principle that will accelerate the achievement of Zambia's Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).