Chapter One Foundation has called on civil society organizations (CSOs) and public institutions to strengthen collaboration in raising public awareness and creating accessible mechanisms for reporting abuse
The organization emphasized that empowering citizens with this information is essential for safeguarding human rights and upholding the rule of law.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, Chapter One Foundation Advocate and lawyer, Mwamba Milambo, noted that despite the existence of legal frameworks and institutions mandated to address human rights violations, many victims remain silent due to a lack of knowledge about how to seek help or where to report abuse.
“Too often, survivors of abuse, whether it is gender-based violence, unlawful detention, or violations by state actors, do not come forward because they simply do not know where to go or what to do,” said Ms. Milambo.
She urged CSOs, government agencies, and human rights institutions to work together to raise awareness of available reporting channels, including legal aid services and complaint desks at police stations and the Human Rights Commission.
Ms. Milambo also called for greater transparency and responsiveness from public institutions tasked with handling abuse cases.
She stressed that public confidence can only grow when citizens witness timely investigations and tangible outcomes from their reports.
By Margaret Mwanza
