Zambia, located in southern Africa, has some of the highest reported rates of gender-based violence across the globe.
Karen Creed and cameraman Brian Walsh journeyed there, with support from the Simon Cumbers Media Fund, to examine the effects of this violence on women and girls and to explore ongoing prevention efforts.
A ban on child marriage was only introduced in Zambia 17 months ago.
Previously, once a girl reached puberty, marriage was permitted.
While making it illegal marks a significant progress, domestic and sexual violence continue to pose serious challenges within the country.
With a population exceeding 19 million, estimates suggest that over a third of all Zambian women and girls have suffered from physical violence.
Women are facing abuse at home, their daughters are being physically and sexually assaulted, often by someone known to them.
“Some mothers are aware of the abuse occurring at home but say, ‘I can’t report this because your father is our provider,'” she explains.
Anastasia Munyati is a campaigner and founder of ARISE, an organization dedicated to social and gender justice.
She focuses her efforts on assisting girls and women affected by gender-based violence (GBV), drawing from her own experiences with trauma.
“I was abused as a child,” she shares. “It’s a struggle I’ve had to confront for a very long time.”
“Having gone through it myself, I understand their pain.”
Anastasia Munyati dedicates her work to helping girls and women who are impacted by gender-based violence
Anastasia becomes emotional as she recounts some of the “most severe cases”, including fathers abusing their daughters.
“Some mothers are aware of the abuse but feel they can’t report it because their partners provide for the family,” she states.
“If he goes to prison, what will we eat, and how will it affect our family’s reputation?”
Zambia’s society is heavily patriarchal, with men holding the majority of authority, often leading to violence.
Watch: Anastasia Munyati discusses the impact of gender-based violence
This issue remains widespread in many countries, where cultural views on masculinity promote the idea that violence is an acceptable means of asserting power.
“The biggest challenge is that these beliefs are deeply ingrained in our social and cultural norms,” Anastasia comments.
“We must find ways to dismantle these harmful cultural practices.”
Efforts Against Gender-Based Violence
There are clear initiatives aimed at combating these harmful practices.
In Lusaka, protests against gender-based violence are becoming more frequent.
“We are addressing negative cultural practices and working to eliminate them.”
A recent protest occurred last month following a rise in reports of men raping young girls.
However, a primary challenge remains: raising awareness about harmful cultural practices among rural communities and their male leaders.
Chief Chamuka, a regional leader, has proclaimed his community a gender-based violence-free zone, and we visited him to discuss efforts toward this goal.
The entrance to Chief Chamuka’s palace
“We’re focusing on stopping negative cultural practices,” he asserts.
“For instance, the idea that a girl should marry as soon as she reaches puberty has been banned.
“The community has embraced this change quite well.”
He believes that people in his community now feel safer reporting any form of abuse due to his assurance of their protection.
Chief Chamuka says his community are no longer afraid to report any form of abuse
This chief represents one of over 200 traditional leaders across the country.
He expresses hope that training will inspire other chiefs to adopt similar approaches and realize that “empowering women and girls” ultimately benefits society as a whole.
Watch: Chief says his community is changing ‘negative cultural practices’
Willingness for Change on a National Scale
While the desire for change is clear at a national level, it will take time for attitudes to shift in remote areas.
The Zambian government has initiated collaborative programs with the United Nations focused on preventing and responding to gender-based violence cases.
Harsh prison sentences for offenders have been enacted alongside awareness campaigns educating the public about gender-based violence.
Shupe Makashinyi, who works with the Zambia UN Development Programme, notes that positive changes are becoming evident.
“There are platforms now where girls in villages can discuss gender equality, GBV, and the fact that domestic violence is a crime.”
Shupe Makashinyi from Zambia’s United Nations Development Programme speaks to Karen Creed
She emphasizes how the mindset of women and girls has significantly transformed.
“In the past, asking women if it was acceptable for their husbands to beat them would yield responses like, ‘yes, it’s a sign of love.’ Now, they are aware of the laws against GBV,” she explains.
This change has led to an increase in reported instances of gender-based violence.
The establishment of one-stop centers to support women and children is crucial to this strategy.
Shupe underscores the importance of expanding these services to rural areas, ensuring victims can access local support.
A teenage girl with a volunteer at a one-stop centre
Irelands Supports Gender Equality in Zambia
Zambia’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence spans more than two decades.
Ireland is among the countries providing long-term support for gender equality through development programs.
Recently, it has drawn from its own experiences to highlight opportunities for enhancing access to justice in Zambia.
One Stop Centre in Chamuka village
Chali Mbewe Hambayi oversees the country’s gender-based crime department and outlines the progress being made in various areas.
“Thanks to the support of the Government of Ireland, we have established fast-track GBV courts,” she explained.
“We have trained magistrates, prosecutors, and investigators on the appropriate responses to gender-based violence cases.”
She emphasizes that holding perpetrators accountable instills confidence in victims who might be hesitant to come forward, assuring them that “the law will support me.”
Chali Mbewe Hambayi oversees the country’s gender-based crimes department
Nonetheless, there’s still work to be done to move beyond victim-blaming narratives that hinder some women and girls from reporting these crimes.
Chali exemplifies the Zambian women leading the charge for social and legal changes.
Like Anastasia, Shupe, and many others we encountered, she remains dedicated to challenging cultural norms.
Their education empowers them to contribute to societal improvement.
They are equally eager to showcase that Zambia is a beautiful nation, despite its social and economic challenges.
They appreciate that we have witnessed both the vibrancy of the country and the warmth of its people.
On our final day in Lusaka, I inquire about the unusual bottle-shaped tree I have seen throughout our travels.
“That’s the baobab tree,” they smile and explain. I later learn that it symbolizes resilience across Zambia.
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Karen Creed and Brian Walsh traveled to Zambia with the support of the Simon Cumbers Media Fund.
