10/12/2025
𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐄𝐂𝐇 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐅𝐓𝐔𝐙 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍’𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍,
𝐌𝐑𝐒. 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀 𝐒𝐈𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀.
𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄: 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒.
𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟏𝟔 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐆𝐁𝐕.
𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚
Today, the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia joins the global community in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the theme Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls. This year’s theme is not merely a slogan it is a powerful national call to action. It reminds us that violence has expanded beyond our homes, workplaces, and communities, and extended into the digital world where women and girls are increasingly targeted and harmed.
Digital violence is real. It is happening every single day in Zambia often silently - nd it is destroying confidence, dignity, safety, and mental wellbeing. From online harassment, cyberbullying, threats, impersonation, and fake accounts…to the non-consensual sharing of images, extortion, and digital blackmail…this is not “just the internet.” This is violence. This is abuse. This is a violation of human rights. And today, we stand to say ENOUGH.
𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚
As a mother body representing workers across Zambia, FFTUZ recognises that digital violence does not end on the screen. It follows women into their workplaces, their homes, and their communities. We continue to receive reports of female workers being humiliated online, silenced for speaking out, or attacked simply for occupying leadership positions. This form of violence reduces productivity, weakens mental health, destabilises homes, and discourages young girls from achieving their full potential. It is a direct threat to labour rights, union participation, and the future of Zambia’s workforce.
Workers, communities, and the government must unite to stop this. To the workers of Zambia whether in the formal or informal sector , e urge you to stand firmly with your sisters. Challenge harmful comments, stop circulating abusive content, and refuse to participate in online bullying disguised as “jokes.” Create workplaces both physical and digital where female colleagues feel safe, respected, and protected. Digital violence thrives in silence, and when workers speak up collectively, the cycle of abuse breaks.
Ladies and Gentlemen, colleagues in the media.
To our communities, including parents, teachers, traditional leaders, youth mentors, and church leaders you are the first line of defence for our daughters, nieces, and students. Digital violence attacks the young the hardest. We must teach responsible technology use, empathy, and accountability. Communities must openly discuss digital safety, mentorship, and positive masculinity. More importantly, we must break the culture of silence that protects perpetrators while girls suffer in fear and isolation. A community that protects its women and girls offline must also protect them online.
To the Government of the Republic of Zambia, we acknowledge your ongoing commitment to strengthening GBV laws and ensuring digital safety. However, the rising cases of online harassment require greater investment in cyber security units, rapid-response reporting systems, and stricter enforcement of laws against online abusers. We urge the government to enhance digital literacy programmes, strengthen collaboration with unions, and integrate digital safety into national development strategies. FFTUZ stands ready to work with the overnment through policy advocacy, nationwide worker education, and community mobilisation.
To our partners in civil society, the media, youth groups, academia, and corporate institutions, this fight needs all of us. Let us unite our platforms, voices, and resources to create a safer digital ecosystem for women and girls. Collaboration across sectors will amplify survivor voices, expand awareness campaigns, and hold perpetrators accountable.
𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚
This year’s FFTUZ campaign, Breaking the Silence: Voices for Change, represents our commitment to speak boldly, listen deeply, and advocate fiercely. We are creating platforms for survivors to share their experiences, training workers on digital safety, strengthening workplace GBV policies, and empowering communities to challenge harmful norms that normalise online abuse. When women and girls are safe, Zambia is stronger. When workers are protected, workplaces are more productive. When we unite to end digital violence, we build a nation where every citizen, regardless of gender can thrive without fear.
Let us all workers, families, institutions, communities, and government commit ourselves to making Zambia a safe digital and physical environment for every woman and girl. The time to act is now. The responsibility is shared. And the theme is clear; 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃, 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄.
I thank you.
