WUNRN
ZAMBIA - SAFE SPACES & SUPPORT
FOR YOUNG WOMEN
TO DISCUSS HARMFUL CULTURAL
PRACTICES - YWCA
The YWCA of
In order to
address these harmful cultural practices, the YWCA of Zambia has created safe
spaces in schools and communities. Young women gather in these safe spaces to
discuss issues that affect them, such as human rights, and sexual and
reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and develop life skills to make informed
choices. Safe spaces also provide referral points to access other services
offered by the YWCA, such as counselling, legal advice, support through court
processes and temporary shelter. In Kaoma, this project is being supported by
the World YWCA Power to Change Fund. It is increasing awareness on issues of
SRHR among young people, especially young women, with skills to address
disparities in society that make them vulnerable. The project is becoming
stronger by the day, as more young women add their voices to demand the ban on
negative cultural practices.
Under customary
law, early marriages are permitted, and they predispose young girls to marry
soon after reaching puberty. In November 2010, for example, a 15 year old girl
returned to her village near
Intensified
advocacy, lobbying and awareness raising has yielded positive results to help
curb these practices. The amendment of the Penal Code in 2005 now criminalises
harmful cultural practices. Some traditional leaders are speaking against these
negative practices and have taken steps to discourage them. For example, Chief
Mpezeni from the
Violence against
women, particularly against wives, remains a huge problem in
The YWCA of
Zambia conducts awareness raising to sensitise women to ‘break the silence’ and
to report all cases of violence, regardless of where they occur. The YWCA also
advocates for the removal of the infamous Article 23(4) of the Zambian
Constitution which permits customary law to discriminate against women.
The Power to
Change Fund project in