HH demands rapid disposal of GBV cases

By NATION REPORTER

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says Gender-Based Violence is nothing but criminality, which should be dealt with by the judicial system expressly.
Mr Hichilema says gender-based violence was a crime whether it was physical or through the cyber space and that the perpetrators should be made to account for their actions.
“We should distinguish criminality on social media and freedoms. Many of us confuse civil liberties with criminality. Let us protect our women and our girls. Mutual respect is a very important issue,” he said. President Hichilema was speaking yesterday when he officiated at the 16 days of gender activism.
He also called for the inclusion of the boy-child in gender matters, warning that discriminating against the boy-child would be an affront to their rights. President Hichilema said there should be no confusion between media and freedoms and civil liberties as enshrined in the Bill of Rights or any other statute.
“There should be no confusion with criminality. Hiding behind a tablet or phone to commit a crime and say things about a woman or a girl that does not exist. It is more damaging,” the President said. He said a good man always respected the woman. “That social media item could cause more deaths, kids especially those affected by drugs, they will rape a woman because they saw it. And the media should not be carrying such content.
We should not carry such content on our platforms in the name of just being a medium. Where is professionalism? Where is editorial policy? Unfortunately now, everybody is a newsmaker in the house and there is no time to edit,” President Hichilema said.
He said there was urgency of legal amendments to enhance gender representation so that society was fair to women and the girl child.
“Let us not tolerate men committing crimes against women and vice versa. There is no one as important as a women. Carrying a child on her back, hand and the womb,” President Hichilema said.