EASTERN Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Lewis Mwape, says it is disheartening to note that statistics are not changing for the better as far as Gender Based Violence (GBV) is concerned.

Dr Mwape says the rate of GBV is still very high in the province, describing the situation as regrettable.

He was speaking when he officiated at the launch of this year’s commemoration of 16 days of activism against GBV, held in Chipata under the theme,’ Towards Beijing +30: Unite to end violence against women and girls.

Dr Mwape observed that in this year’s first quarter, the province received 602 GBV related cases representing an increase of 6.8 percent compared to 561 cases received in the same period of the first quarter last year.

He noted that in the second quarter of this year, the region received a total number of 535 cases of GBV, representing 10.1 percent reduction in reporting cases compared to 595 cases received during the same period last year.

Dr Mwape attributed the decrease in the number of GBV reported cases to the culture of silence in places where the scourge happened.

“For a long time now, the culture of silence has characterized the scourge of GBV where most of the victims have remained silent. We cannot effectively end GBV if the voices of victims and rights defenders go unheard,” Dr Mwape said.

He urged victims to report GBV issues to toll free numbers of 933 for women and 116 for girls or through One-Stop Centers or report directly to the Zambia Police Service’s Victim Support Unit (VSU).

And Chipata District Non-governmental Gender Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Focal Point Person, Tisa Banda, said the fight could not be fought by the government alone but needed concerted effort.

Ms Banda said the numbers of GBV cases recorded last year and this year are not just statistics but behind the statistics, there were real people who were affected by the vice.

“Working together to fight GBV will lead to increased levels of safety and support for GBV survivors through an effective, immediate and consistent service network,” she said.