ELIMINATION OF CHILD MARRIAGES: ZAMBIAS PERSPECTIVE

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ELIMINATION OF CHILD MARRIAGES ZAMBIAS
PERSPECTIVE

• BY
• PROF NKANDU LUO

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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

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ISSUES

• CHILD MARRIAGE PRIMARILY A RURAL PHENOMENOM
• HAPPENS BETWEEN AN ADULT MALE AND GIRL CHILD OR
  BETWEEN TWO CHILDREN.
• IS MULTIFACETED BY NATURE

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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

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COMPOUNDING FACTORS

• POVERTY AND HIGH ILLETERACY LEVELS
• LACK OF DEFINITION OF A CHILD
• DUAL LEGAL SYSTEMS
• SOCIETY AND CULTURAL NORMS

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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

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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

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ZAMBIAS RESPONSE

• 40 TRADITIONAL LEADERS COMMITT TO ELIMINATE CHILD
  MARRIAGES IN THEIR CHIEFDOMS
• NATIONAL AMBASSADOR AND PROVINCIAL AMBASSADORS
  AMONGST TRADITIONAL LEADERS VOLUNTEER

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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

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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

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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

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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

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