GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PRESENTERS NAME: THERESA SIKUTE-CHISHIMBA CATEGORY: COE LEADERSHIP COUNTRY: ZAMBIA SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT DATE: 25 th -26 th March, 2013 VENUE: YOUR LOGO GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN BACKGROUND

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INSTITUTION Designation: Vice Coordinator – District Gender Sub- Committee How long has this leader has been part of the COE process? This leader has been part of the centre of COE since 2003 She was initiated the International women’s day celebrations in the district and she was the first chairperson. How long have you been part of the COE process? This leader has been involved with the COE since GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

WHY IS GENDER MAINSTREAMING IMPORTANT TO YOU? Gender mainstreaming is important to me because it helps in assessing the implications of any planned action for both men and women as well as helping to ensure there are no inequalities between them. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LEADER’S LEARNING JOURNEY This leader was first trained as primary school teacher at Kitwe Teacher’s Training College from 1987 to 1988 Went to Technical and vocational Teacher’s college from 2000 to 2001 The University of Zambia from 2005 to 2011 She has been District President for The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) since 2003 She has also been Provincial Coordinator for Society For Women And AIDS in Zambia (SWAAZ) from 2003 to date. Additionally, apart from being a teacher, She is the District Coordinator-Guidance And Counselling in the Ministry of Education. she helps Orphaned and Vulnerable children, Abused men, women and children. She has been involved in Advocacy on issues of gender, Women empowerment programs, sensitization programs and counselling. GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

She was the initiator of the International Women’s Day celebrations in Luanshya district in This was the first encounter with the COE. Subsequent encounters with the COE have been during 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, during the World AIDS day and many other meetings organised in the district.

KEY GENDER CHALLENGES IN THE INSTITUTION Most women are vulnerable that they do not want action against their abusive husbands and usually do not want them taken to court. Most women have no source of livelyhood, hence, they end up enduring in abusive relationships. GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

The courts especially local courts usually take sides with the party with the financial muscle which in most cases happens to be the male. The issue of volunteerism is a big challenge since this leaders covers the whole district.

WHAT ROLE HAVE YOU PLAYED IN CHAMPIONING GENDER WITHIN THE INSTITUTION? This leader has organised trainings for women, men and COE counsellors to discuss issues of gender. This leader has also been instrumental in explaining issues of gender during meetings. She has also helped influenced budgetary allocation to both girls and boys for school fees. GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

HOW IS YOUR INSTITUTION CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE 28 TARGETS OF THE SADC PROTOCOL? GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST! PROTOCOL TARGETCOUNCIL/ MEDIA ACTIONS Articles 20-25: Gender Based Violence The institution engages government to ensure that they enact legislative provisions, and adopt and implement policies, strategies and programmes which define and prohibit sexual harassment in all spheres, and provide deterrent sanctions for perpetrators of sexual harassment. This leader was chosen to be part of the constitution making process at different fora in the country. Adopt integrated approaches including institutional cross sector structures with the aim of reducing current levels of gender based violence (GBV)by half by Works with organisations that have safe houses such as the Catholic diocese shelter for battered women to protect them and safeguard them from abusive spouses. Also helps survivors of GBV and sexual harassment have access to Post Exposure Prophylaxis.

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MAIN SUCCESSES? Refer to policy interventions This leader has ensured that the National Gender Policy and the Action Plan are implemented in areas of gender based violence through having awareness campaigns to change negative cultural practices of society. Specific campaigns: Inviting Government departmental heads, the media and other stakeholders to discuss issues of gender. Innovation: Inviting the Deputy minister in the Ministry of Gender to come and host a luncheon where issues of gender are discussed. Photograph/s showing changes Minister of gender and the invited guests to the luncheon at Cholwa Guest House. GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

CHALLENGES TO GENDER MAINSTREAMING The major challenge has been minimal men involvement in issues of gender. Hence, assessment of implications of some planned actions has been a challenge. Low women involvement in decision making has led to poor policy implementation especially where issues of GBV are concerned. Social cultural practices have made most women be more receptive than participatory in programmes. Please list the main challenges you experienced. GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THE CHALLENGES? Please explain the strategies you have used to address the challenges We have used the male civic leaders such as councillors from the COE to explain issues of gender to groups of men and women Male Role Models, especially of survivors of GBV are used to encourage other men. Advocacy for more women to be involved in decision making positions. E.g. Now 3 out of 7 senior staff at Luanshya Municipal Council are female. We have been having sensitization programmes with communities to teach them more about gender issues. GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

How have you grown? What has changed in this person’s life? This leader has broadened her tentacles in that she now looks at the whole district as opposed to just a few people in town center before Why has it changed? Because more people are now aware of the work done by this leader. Hence, she receives calls from all over the district. To what extent is the COE work responsible for this change? Please be very specific. The COE has been responsible for the change because this leader has been made more popular through events organised through the COE such as the International Women’s Day, District Development Coordinating Committee meetings, the World AIDS Day and other such meetings. Additionally, through the COE, this leader has been having easy access even to the judicial system and the Zambia Police Is there any specific person who has mentored this leader? Please be specific. This leader has been mentored by Professor Nkandu Luo. She has helped this leader to learn to organise and form groups. She has also been exposed to different meetings, trainings ```` and conferences. What skills; knowledge; values and attitudes has the leader gained through the COE process? Through the COE, this leader has learnt community mobilization, protocol to be observed during meetings, proposal writing and many more. What other factors have been responsible for this change? This leader’s involvement with other Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Society for Women And AIDS in Zambia (SWAAZ), The Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) and the church- Bread of Life church International, she has had greater interaction with community members. Please capture any light bulb moments, through anecdotes and examples. This leader being tutored by professor Nkandu LUO GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

Testimonial evidence Quotes from beneficiaries To be submitted in person Quotes from beneficiaries GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!

WAY FORWARD What are the next steps? There are some cases that need to be taken to court. More sensitizations especially in Peri-urban areas need to be done regarding GBV and social cultural issues More advocacy needed for more women to be put in decision making positions. The YWCA and SWAAZ will be part of the constitution making process at National level. This leader will take part in contributing to gender issues GENDER EQUALITY BY 2015, YES WE MUST!