Former Chairperson of the Youth Association of Zambia Donald Mkandawire has called for the urgent need for immediate attention and action against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) targeting women and girls.
In an interview with Flava News, Mr. Mkandawire characterised the perpetuation of such acts as an extreme form of animalistic behaviour that must be eradicated from society. He stressed the importance of government intervention, advocating for the implementation of penalties and the enforcement of lengthy jail sentences to effectively combat this pressing issue.
Mr. Mkandawire lamented the prolonged suffering endured by victims at the hands of the perpetrators and called for a decisive stance to break this cycle of violence. He argued that introducing stiffer penalties would send a powerful message, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders and demonstrating that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Mr. Mkandawire has also urged authorities to take decisive action to address Gender-Based Violence, stressing the critical role of stringent penalties in fostering a safer and more just society.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which kicked off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day, calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
This year, the United Nations marks 16 Days under the theme, ‘UNiTE! Invest To Prevent Violence against Women & Girls’.
