By YVONNE CHATE –

THE Victim Support Unit (VSU) is saddened at the increasing number of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases withdrawn from its centres.
Chililabombwe VSU officer in Charge David Mugala said his office recorded a total of 206 GBV cases that were withdrawn before being handled.
Mr Mugala said the number of cases that were withdrawn especially by female victims were increasing on a daily basis.
“It is disheartening and very sad to see the number of cases that are withdrawn from VSU especially by female victims. In the last quarter of last year we recorded 131 cases of GBV that were withdrawn and the whole year it was 206 meaning, the numbers were increasing towards the end of the year,” he said
He said female victims would usually withdraw their cases from the VSU because they did not want their husbands to be jailed even when they were told of other ways of handling their matters.
Mr Mugala said a lot of people preferred criminal proceedings to civil ones in GBV cases and for fear to see perpetrators jailed, they withdrew the cases.
“In most of these GBV cases such as physical violence involving a couple or relative, you would find that cases are withdrawn on grounds of financial support,” he said
He said there was need for stakeholders involved in implementing the anti-gender based violence protection to put in much effort.
Mr Mugala said he received reports that implementing the protection order to GBV victims was a long process.