Tilka Paljk takes a stand against GBV

Zambian professional swimmer Tilka Paljk arranged an intimate protest on the streets of Sandton to raise awareness of gender-based violence (GBV) for the people of Zambia on September 11.

Paljk, who relocated to South Africa at the age of 17, is no stranger to the spotlight after competing in the 2017 World Aquatics Championship and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She took time off from her schedule to address the serious issue that Zambia is facing through a protest, which was held on the corner of Sandton Drive and Rivonia Road.

In total, the protest had six participants who were spreading the awareness, four of which were from Zambia including Paljk. Her initial goal of the protest was to show her support by doing it alone, but along the way she was supported by her friends, family and a few other supporters from Zambia.

She said, “It does not matter where I am in the world. I will support my country from wherever I am.

“The reason why people do not hear a lot about gender-based violence in Zambia is because of the social aspect of it. If your husband beats you or your wife beats you, you keep it quiet. You don’t tell other people what happens behind closed doors in your house.”

Paljk concluded by listing a few ways in which people could prevent this social issue from occurring. “Make it more socially unacceptable. Force people to talk about it. Encourage people to do more in terms of preventing it when seeing it first hand.
“As a society, we need to stand up for one another. This starts with the education of little boys and girls. Tell the girls that it is not right for men to hit you and tell the boys that it is not right to harm women.”