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 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 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 69 TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBY NOW DEVELOPING A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO END CHILD MARRIAGES ROBUST MEDIA CAPAIGN

PROGRESS 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