Members of Women's Federation for World Peace in Zambia pose for a photo in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, on Feb. 16, 2022. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)
by Lillian Banda
LUSAKA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Despite numerous efforts by stakeholders to end gender-based violence in Zambia, incidences of violence against women and girls are still rampant, particularly in low-income areas of the country.
An initiative by the Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP), an international non-governmental organization that works with and for women worldwide, however, is helping to end acts of violence in Zambian communities through its signature campaign.
The campaign, which seeks to build and restore peace in homes across the world, is empowering women in Zambia with tools to enable them to become champions of peace in their respective communities. Through the campaign, women are encouraged to be peacebuilders in homes and the wider society by promoting peaceful resolution of disputes among other things.
"There is a tendency by people involved in a dispute to resort to confrontational measures which often lead to violence. However, through sober dialogue, a lot more good can be attained. That is the central message of the signature campaign," said Annie Mwale, WFWP Zambia president.
Mwale observed that as a result of the campaign, there have been some noteworthy reduction in cases of domestic violence in general and acts of violence against women in particular in communities that have participated in the signature campaign.
"We continue to receive positive feedback from community leaders and women that have taken part in the signature campaign to the effect that their communities are registering a drop in incidences of violence against the female folk," she said.
WFWP has been working with community leaders including religious and village heads in mobilizing women to sign up for the campaign, which aims to reach 2 million women globally, according to Mwale.
In Zambia, activities for the signature campaign started toward the end of 2020 and are expected to go on till mid-2023.
"So far we have had over 19,000 signatures for peace from women in Lusaka, Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia. We are set to reach the remaining seven provinces of the country," Mwale revealed.
She said that WFWP is seeking out signatures from women because they are key in promoting peace in homes and inculcating values in children and adults alike. And women spend more time with children and other members of the family hence the need to empower them with tools to enable them to be better peacebuilders.
"It is good to note that more women in Zambia are buying into the campaign and signing peace forms. This is a clear indication that Zambian women want violence-free environments," Mwale asserted. ■