NGOCC HOLDS CANDLELIGHT SERVICE & MARCH PAST ON 16 DAYS AGAINST GBV.

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE & MATCH PAST FOR THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, 2^ND DECEMBER 2016

INTRODUCTION

Theme: “Orange the World; Raising Money To End Violence Against Women and Girls”

The challenge of Gender Based Violence (GBV) has become widespread and is now affecting  most countries in the world. It is against this background that the United Nations reserved the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence which is commemorated Every year starting from November 25^th  the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates November 25- International Day Against Violence Against Women- and December 10- International Human Rights Day- in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre and 10^th December the Human Rights day.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

• raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work around violence against women
• establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women.

In Zambia, according to the Zambia Police, in 2016, 4,235 cases of GBV were recorded against the 4, 915 cases recorded during the same period last year. Though there was a marginal reduction of 14.5 percent reduction, the figures are still too high for our country’s population.

In 2016, Zambia has experienced a very unfortunate phenomenon where women, are allegedly killing their husbands.  So far five wives are being held in Lusaka Central prisons on allegations of having murdered their husbands. There is therefore still need for awareness rising on GBV to both men and women.

It is against this background that as part of the commemoration for the 2016 16 Days of Activism against GBV, NGOCC has planned to hold a match past and a candle light service.

The match past is scheduled to be held on Friday, December 2^nd starting from the freedom statue to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross where the candlelight service will be held. During the service, speeches will be made by the NGOCC board Chairperson and the Republican President His Excellence President Edgar Lungu has been invited, the clergy, Ministry of Gender and the Men’s Network.

RATIONALE

The rationale is to raise awareness against GBV and to remember especially the men and also the women that have lost their lives through GBV. This activity works at igniting women and men’s involvement in the fight against GBV.

The match past started from Freedom statue at 16:30 through Independence Avenue to the Cathedral where the Candlelight service was held. Before the service some bible verses against GBV were read and a short bible sharing from the Clergy was give. Thereafter, a speech was read by the NGOCC Board Chairperson, YMCA President and Minister of Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili on behalf of the Minister of Gender will also read a speech. A testimony will also be given by victims of GBV from the Men’s Network.

 “#Stop the Killings End GBV Now!” 

Minister of Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili(left), Council of Churches in Zambia Chairperson Reverend Suzanne Matale (center) and NGOCC Board chairperson Sara Longwe.