ELIMINATION OF CHILD MARRIAGES:
ZAMBIAS PERSPECTIVE
BY
PROF NKANDU LUO
CHILD MARRIAGES IN ZAMBIA
• GOVERNMENT IDENTIFIED CHILD MARRIAGE
AS AN ISSUE
• A QUICK ANALYSIS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC
HEALTH SURVEYS REVEALED THAT ZAMBIA IS
ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WITH HIGH
PREVALANCE OF CHILD MARRIAGES
ESTIMATED AT 42%
ISSUES
• CHILD MARRIAGE PRIMARILY A RURAL
PHENOMENOM
• HAPPENS BETWEEN AN ADULT MALE AND
GIRL CHILD OR BETWEEN TWO CHILDREN.
• IS MULTIFACETED BY NATURE
MULTIFACETED NATURE OF CHILD
MARRIAGE
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HAS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT
IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE
IS A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUE
IS A FORM OF CHILD LABOUR
IS ASSOCIATED WITH GENDER IMBALANCES
IS A DRIVER OF THE HIV EPIDEMIC, GENDER
BASED VIOLENCE
• CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH CERVICAL CANCERS
COMPOUNDING FACTORS
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POVERTY AND HIGH ILLETERACY LEVELS
LACK OF DEFINITION OF A CHILD
DUAL LEGAL SYSTEMS
SOCIETY AND CULTURAL NORMS
RESPONSE BY THE ZAMBIAN
GOVERNMENT
• PLANNING STARTED IN DECEMBER 2012
• COSORTIUM OF TEN MINISTRIES FORMED:
JUSTICE, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
AND EARLY EDUCATION, GENDER AND CHILD
DEVELOPMENT, HOME AFFAIRS, LABOUR,
COMMUNITY, MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH,
HEALTH, YOUTH AND SPORT, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, CHIEFS AND TRADITIONAL
AFFAIRS
RESPONSE BY ZAMBIAN
GOVERNMENT
• CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR AND
COOPERATING PARTNERS MOBILISED AND
PART OF THE CONSORTIUM
• TRADITIONAL LEADERS IDENTIFIED AS THE KEY
CAMPAIGNERS
• NATIONAL LAUNCH IN APRIL 2013
• PROVINCIAL LAUNCES IN THE 10 PROVINCES
BY THE MINISTERS IN THE CONSORTIUM
ZAMBIAS RESPONSE
• 40 TRADITIONAL LEADERS COMMITT TO
ELIMINATE CHILD MARRIAGES IN THEIR
CHIEFDOMS
• NATIONAL AMBASSADOR AND PROVINCIAL
AMBASSADORS AMONGST TRADITIONAL
LEADERS VOLUNTEER
MILESTONES
• NATIONAL TECHNICAL COMMITEE FORMED
• TCECHNICAL WORKING GROUP IN PLACE
• ZAMBIA PART OF THE CONTINENTAL CAMPAIGN OF
THE AU
• ZAMIA AND CANADA CO.LED THE UN RESOLUTION
68/148 ON CHILD, EARLY AND FORCED MARRIAGES AT
THE 69TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBY
• NOW DEVELOPING A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO END
CHILD MARRIAGES
• ROBUST MEDIA CAPAIGN
PROGRESS
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MAPPING COMPLETED
SITUATION ANALYSIS UNDERWAY
REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM SUCCESSFUL
NATIONAL GENDER POLICY REVISED AND HAS
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT CHILD MARRIAGES
REVISED AND LAUNCHED
• NATIONAL CHILD POLICY AND HAS TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT CHILD MARRIAGES REVISED
PROGRESS
• REVISION OF CHIEFS AND TRADITIONAL
AFFAIRS POLICY AND HAS TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT ISSUES RELATED TO CHILD
MARRIAGES IN PROGRESS
• ZAMBIA SIGNED TO THE ESA COMMITTMENT:
PROMOTING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH RIGHTS FOR ADOLESCENTS
PROGRESS
• DRAFT MARRIAGE BILL READY FOR
PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENT THIS
MONTHS SEATING: PROPOSED AGE FOR
MARRIAGE IS 18YRS
• CHILD CODIFICATION BILL; THAT SEEKS TO
HARMONIZE CHILD RELATED LAWS IN
PROGRESS