ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE CHILD PROTECTION UNIT (CPU) Mr Muma Kapambwe PRESENTED BY Mr Muma Kapambwe

BACKGROUND OF CHILD PROTECTION UNIT Child Protection Unit is the unit of the Zambia police which was established in 2007 to specifically look at the safety and protection of children from all forms of abuse. The Unit also ensures that Juvenile offenders are taken care off. The Unit was later seconded to Ministry Of Community Development under the department of Social Welfare

WHAT IS CHILD PROTECTION Measures and mechanism government has put in place to protect Children in Zambia. Laws that govern children's Welfares Line Ministries

VISION To provide a safe environment for children through creating a state of orderliness and this is derived from the Police service constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order.

MAIN OBJECTIVES To prevent and respond to specific situations where children are at risk or subjected to any kind of abuse. To thoroughly investigate all reported cases of crimes committed against children and to prosecute all perpetrators of any child abuse

Children on the streets TARGETS CPU Targets Abused children Missing children Children on the streets Juvenile offenders Early marriages Children at risk

TARGETS We respond very quickly to situation where children are at risk Each time we receive a report of any kind of child abuse, we make sure that the child is quickly removed from the abusive environment and secure a place of safety for him/her and subsequently bring the perpetrator to book as provided by the law.

ACTIVITIES Sensitizing children and the members of the public on the rights of the children as stipulated by the UN Convention on the rights of the child As a preventive measure, CPU has been going round schools, churches and other public places to sensitize people on child related crimes.

ACTIVITIES The unit has formed child protection committees to help fight child related crimes in communities The unit provides counselling to survivors of abuse as well as family members Prosecute parents and guardians who abuse and neglect their children as provided by the penal code and the juveniles Act Cap 53 of the Laws of Zambia

ACTIVITIES Child protection unit is working hand in hand with the MCDMCH, MYSCD, the media and other cooperating partners in safe guarding the lives of the children. Removing of children from the streets to homes of safety and later integrate them back to their families.

IDENTIFIED GAPS AND CHALLENGES Lack of logistics e.g. transport Lack of a trauma centre to respond to the psychological well being of abused children. Insufficient computers and furniture Weak and lack of collaboration with some NGO’ s providing child protection services. Weak collaboration from the community in reporting cases of child abuse.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, as Zambia Police Child Protection Unit, it is hoped that our existence will continue building a protective environment for children that will help prevent and respond to CRIMES committed against the children in our nation. An inter-disciplinary approach is a way forward and this will demand concerted efforts from key stake holders because “Every child counts and in need of protection”.

EVERY CHILD COUNTS AND IN NEED OF PROTECTION

END OF PRESENTATION THANK YOU FOR LISTENING