We Effect monitoring visit to Chief Mumba's Area. The visit took place on 14 November 2015. We Effect is supporting WfC to undertake social and economic empowerment. The community during their presentations alluded to improvement in gender equality and use of knowledge in bee keeping that was imparted on them during trainings organised by WfC with support from We Effect. The Chairperson Elizabeth Mumba chaired the meeting and this is one of the ways that WfC is using to create women leaders and breaking the culture of leadership being associated to men only.
On 14 November 2015, We Effect Board, Global, Regional and Country Directors undertook a field visit to Nangoma to monitor the impact of their support to communities in social and economic empowerment being implemented by Women for Change. During the visit it came out that communities had embraced to a greater extent gender equality and were also empowered with knowledge on bee keeping and were using study circles to share knowledge on various developments including conservation agriculture. The gathering included village headpersons, members of the area associations working with WfC and ordinary community members in Nangoma.
WfC engaging headpersons and opinion leaders in Nangoma Area on the need to enhance access and control to land for women. The Traditional leaders said they do give land to women including widows and those who are single. This is good news and indeed the change can be seen even through the presence of female headpersons and female opinion leaders at the meeting.
Press Statement
11 November 2015 Women for Change dismayed with increase in defilement cases While Women for Change (WfC) has been dismayed at the number of child abuse cases that are being reported through the media, for instance, UTH reported to have recorded an increase to 146 of abused patients in the month of September this year as compared to last year’s 108; it has been an additional shock to learn of many cases that still go unreported. In the past year, while working on a UNDP/GRZ funded anti-Gender Based Violence (GBV) project in rural areas using a village-led model that the organisation has designed, it has been saddening to witness abuse cases that go unreported due to non-availability of relevant support structures. We commend government for its willingness to partner with us in our efforts to mitigate GBV cases in rural areas as well. However, while a lot of effort is being made by all stakeholders, perpetrators are not remorseful at the impact of their actions on the victims especially children whose faith and trust in their protection is destroyed. For this reason, we are making a humble appeal to all those abusing children psychologically, physically and/or sexually to STOP NOW! Abuse of a child is sadistic and inhuman because the child grows up tainted by such an experience the rest of their lives. In view of the negative impact of child abuse, we make an appeal to the government and other stakeholders to support the setting up of counselling services in all our health institutions, all our police stations through the Victim Support Unit and encourage the setting up of professionally run counselling centres with reputable background. These providers will enhance access to counselling services for GBV survivors and help lead in taking proactive steps in preventing abuse. We further make an appeal to government to remain steadfast in its fight against child abuse by ensuring a legal framework that stands the test of time and providing for alternative protection centres for children living in abusive environments. In the same vein, WfC would like to urge families, especially female members, not to cover up abuse cases in their homes. The anti-GBV fight is for all of us and unless we stand as one, the vice will continue to cripple our families, communities and the nation at large. TOGETHER WE SAY NO TO GBV! Lumba Siyanga Executive Director Women for Change 11 November 2015 Press Statement
14 October 2015 Women for Change calls for the promotion of positive culture Women for Change (WfC) would like to encourage traditional leaders to emulate Chief Mulolo of the Chewa people of Chadiza in Eastern province by promoting positive cultural practices that protect and promote the rights of girls and women. WfC is concerned with the continued cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality and consequently impact negatively on the future of girls and women in Zambia. We would like to state that such cultural norms are harmful to the holistic development of communities and Zambia at large because they contribute to poverty which a large section of the country is subjected to. Such norms prevent girls and women from going to school, disapproves of their ownership to productive resources including land and ability to participate in decision making which have a bearing on their lives as well as health. To this end, WfC would like to commend Chief Mulolo for encouraging his subjects to prioritise education for girls and boys in his Chiefdom as opposed to traditional dances such as Gule wamukulu and Chinamwali The pronouncement from His Royal Highness is a step in the right direction in addressing early pregnancies and child marriages that in 2014 stood at over 16,000 while 58 percent of these were from Eastern province where many girls undergo Chinamwali when they come of age. It is our hope that more traditional leaders and traditionalists will embrace the brave and positive steps being taken by His Royal Highness Chief Mulolo. Lumba Siyanga Executive Director Women for Change 14 October 2015 Appointment of Hon. Wina a welcome move- WfC
The appointment of Her Hon. Mrs Inonge Wina, Vice President of Zambia to the position of Minister of National Planning is a welcome move because it will ensure gender responsive planning in Zambia. Women for Change (WfC) further calls on H.E. President Edgar Lungu to appoint more women to the remaining ministerial positions to address the wide gender equality gap in the Zambian Cabinet. Meanwhile WfC would like to express its displeasure at the continued stereotyping of women as evident in allegations by some sections of society that the Vice President is too old for the task. Such allegations are highly gender insensitive considering that there are many old male politicians about whom no such remarks have been made. Women for Change therefore reiterates its position that there is need for everyone to promote a society where there is gender equality and therefore commends all efforts aimed at achieving equal representation in decision making positions. Lumba Siyanga Executive Director Women for Change 8 October 2015 8 October 2015
Impending Closure of Norwegian Embassy a blow to Women’s Movement Women for Change (WfC) is concerned with the announcement from the Norwegian Embassy that it will close its mission to Zambia next year. We are concerned that this will leave a big gap especially in the lives of women and children in rural areas where the Embassy’s support to the Women’s movement have been channeled. However, we note the fact that the Embassy has alluded to budgetary constraints and new priority areas as the reason for closure and we thank the Embassy for its support to the Women’s movement. Women for Change Executive Director Women for Change 8 October 2015 The morning of August 27, 2015 citizens of Zambia, Traditional Chiefs, workers from We Effect and Women for Change gathered at Cresta Golfview Hotel to launch the report made in the conference held last year.
Almost exactly a year ago, Women for Change and We Effect organized a conference to gather Traditional Leaders from Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe to speak on the issue of Women's Land Ownership Rights. Women in all four of these countries face many issues in the process of gaining possession of land, for example in many circumstances where there a husband passes, his family will seize the land he owned - leaving nothing for the wife and children. We gathered on this morning to launch the report on the conclusions of this conference Our Guest of Honour for this day: Deputy Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, John Kafuna, Chief Chikanta and Chief Ndake are some of our guests joining us today. We also had a informative presentation from Zambia Land Alliance from the Executive Director: Nsama Chikolwa, where it was stated that there was a demand in Zambia for a Land Policy. There have been many issues surrounding land seizure by parties that may or may not actually have entitlement to it, and through Land Policy. Another notable speech from the Regional Director of our partner WeEffect: Lena Martens Kalmelid stated: "Poverty has a female face... This is not the end, simply a step. We must ensure the continuation of work in the partnership between Women for Change and WeEffect and other stakeholders, towards a society where Women and Men hold equal rights.. " This is important as we have seen time and time again, the occurrence of one big act of motion and no follow up and the problem remains. To create sustainable systems is the key goal in the development work Women for Change does. Be sure to check out our social networking!
Facebook page: Women for Change Twitter: @Womenforchangez The fight against GBV in Zambia is being enhanced across the country. Three stakeholders, Women for Change, the United Nations and the Government of Zambia are using a community-led approach to the fight. On 19 August 2015, 30 people who were trained in handling GBV were presented with certificates, a cellular-phone and bicycle to fight GBV in their communities in Chieftainess Nyanje's Area. An Anti-GBV One-Stop Shop has also been established for communities to report the cases and seek advice in the same area. The 30 participants have been trained as paralegals and Psychosocial Counsellors will provide the services at the center. This center is the fourth to be established by the three stakeholders.
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