Zambia's Victim Support Unit is a specialised police unit handling gender-based violence, domestic violence, defilement, and child abuse. It provides a safer reporting environment than regular police stations.
The Victim Support Unit is a specialised unit within the Zambia Police Service, established in 1994, focused on handling cases involving: gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, defilement (statutory rape), sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, and human trafficking. The VSU is designed to provide a sensitive and confidential environment for victims to report, separate from the regular charge office. VSU officers receive specialised training in handling traumatic cases and interviewing vulnerable witnesses. VSU functions: receiving reports from victims; investigating; referring victims to medical care and safe houses; facilitating psychosocial support; and working with the DPP for prosecution. Reports to the VSU are confidential within the police service. Every police station with a VSU desk is required to have a female officer available. If there is no dedicated VSU station nearby, victims can report at any police station and request their case be handled by the VSU.
A woman is beaten by her husband and wants to report without her children being present or family knowing. She goes to the VSU desk at the nearest police station. A female VSU officer takes her statement privately, refers her to a clinic for medical documentation, and initiates arrest proceedings.
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