RESPONDING TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: A FOCUS ON POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS IN ZAMBIA

The UN has identified Gender Based Violence against women as a global health and development issue. Hence, many countries have formulated a host of policies, public awareness programmes and education that seek to reduce or eliminate it all together. This was a secondary study that sought to review the various laws, policies and institutions that the Zambian government has put in place in order to address the scourge. Hence, literature on various laws, institutions and policies, and issues surrounding the discussion topic were reviewed. Based on the literature, both the achievements and challenges in fighting gender-based violence are presented. In terms of achievements, Zambia has made strides in coming up with various practical measures such as laws, policies and institutions aimed at eliminating GBV. On the downside, despite all the measures put in place, Statistics show that the cases of GBV are still on the rise in Zambia. There is a shortage of officers to enforce laws against GBV.