CASES of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) have reached alarming levels in Zambia despite several interventions by Government and other stakeholders to curb the vice.
For example, a non-govermental organisation, Gender Links revealed that Zambia has the highest cases of GBV in Southern Africa according to their research.
In trying to prevent and respond to GBV, several efforts and innovations have been put in place but somehow fail to effectively deal with this matter which cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level and international borders.
Regardless of the form that GBV takes, it is a human rights violation or abuse, a public health challenge and a barrier to civic, social, political and economic participation.
GBV undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health status and human rights of the millions of individuals who experience it, but also the public health, economic stability and to some extent security of nations.
Despite GBV being widespread in Zambia, prosecuting the perpetrators has been challenging as most victims usually opt to withdraw such cases from police especially if the offender is a breadwinner.
However, the announcement by the United Nations resident coordinator Janet Rogan that plans are underway to set up new fast-track GBV courts brings some relief in the fight against the vice.
Ms Rogan said $250,000 would be spent on the establishment of a fast-track court in Kabwe. The same amount will be spent on a similar facility in Lusaka.
She stated that once the court was operational, GBV cases which in some instances take years to complete, would now be concluded within 14 days.
Ms Rogan said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) wanted quick dispensation of justice considering the increased reports of GBV.
UNDP hopes the establishment the fast-track courts will assist in handing quick justice to the perpetrators.
With the establishment of the fast-track courts, we hope many silent victims will now be able to report their cases to law enforcers and have the matters dispossed off in a shortest possible time.
It is also good that UNDP will provide two vehicles to the Police’s Victim Support Unit and court prosecutors handling GBV cases.
We hope these fast-track courts will be rolled out to all corners of Zambia and keep GBV cases in check.