Zambia: Zambia Police Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba has called upon Police officers to enhance Gender Based Violence sensitizations and campaigns among themselves as much as they do to members of the public.
The campaign against Gender Based Violence started on Monday morning in Zambia. Police Inspector Musamba said perpetrators of GBV should never be law enforcement officers, but they should always be a comfort zone for victims of GBV.
Police Commissioner Creto Kaanza also gave a speech during campaigning on behalf of Inspector Musamba. Commissioner Kaanza gave an opening speech in which he discussed the sexual offences and Child Protection course for the first responders held in Lusaka.
Commissioner Kaanza also said in his speech that “we should need to take GBV cases seriously just like any other vase that came and registered in the police station.”
He also emphasized that “Victims who make reports face to face, on the phone, or through other means must be well taken care of, and Police officers must act according to the needs of the particular victim. ”
The Police Chief said his Command, working together with other stakeholders, must endeavour to build capacity for the first responders of GBV cases so that perpetrators do not get away with it but face the full wrath of the law.
He appreciated the partnership that exists between the Zambia Police Service and Police Scotland.
Police Scotland’s Head of International Development and Innovation Unit, June Peebles, said GBV cases occur everywhere, including Scotland, but sharing information among Police officers helps to curb the vice effectively.
She said the training partnership of Police officers on GBV and other related cases has been extended to 2027. Zambia Police Service and Police Scotland signed a training memorandum of Understanding on GBV and other related cases in 2017.
As per the reports of Zambia, there are more than one-third (36%) of Zambian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.