The evaluation of the penal code (Amendment)Act number 15 of 2005 chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia

Abstract

In the recent years, there has been an increase in the incidences of child sexual abuse and gender based violence in general in which women and girl children in particular have been victims of all sorts of sexual abuses. This has been a source of concern among the women activists, the church, the civil society in general, the politicians, the Government, most of the traditional leaders have also expressed their concern and indeed the public at large. All the sections of the society have been demanding for the enactment of tough laws with stiffer penalties to deal with this situation. In response to this problem, Parliament in the year 2005 moved in and enacted (the new law) the Penal Code (amendment) Act No. 15 of 2005 Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. Despite the enactment of the new law however, there is still an alarming increase in the number of cases of sexual offences in Zambia, hence the need to find an effective and lasting solution to this social problem. It is therefore the intention of this research to evaluate whether the response by Parliament is adequate and appropriate to deal with the problem at hand and also to suggest other measures and how best the criminal justice system can implement the new law to achieve the desired results.