PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL CHILD RIGHTS FORUM (NCRF) 11/04/2025

Lusaka, Zambia – The National Child Rights Forum (NCRF) is a loose alliance of civil society actors formed to advocate for children’s rights in Zambia.The NCRF, a consortium of civil society organizations championing children’s rights, releases this press statement to highlight concerns around the escalating levels of defilement cases in the country.

We are alarmed by the increasing cases of defilement most of which are witchcraft-induced, often perpetrated by individuals in positions of power, including traditional healers and faith based leaders. These heinous acts not only violate children’s rights but also perpetuate a culture of impunity. We urge the government to take immediate action to prosecute these cases, ensuring justice and protection for victims.

We call for stiffer punishment for defilers, including making defilement non-bondable and non-bailable, to serve as a deterrent to potential offenders. This aligns with the advocacy efforts of other civil society organizations, which have been pushing for harsher penalties for defilers. We support the call for ‘no bail, no bond’ for offenders accused of defilement and other child-related crimes. This measure will ensure that perpetrators do not exploit loopholes in the justice system to evade accountability. CSOs, the church and other actors have been advocating for this approach to protect children from further harm and ensure that justice is served.

The recent surge in missing children and youth cases, with some found dead, is a grave concern. We call upon the government to enhance efforts to prevent child abductions, strengthen investigations, and provide support to affected families. The lack of a comprehensive child protection system exacerbates this issue, and we urge the government to prioritize its development. In addition, we would like to urge parents and guardians to take child safeguarding and protection as a priority. Communities are also urged to be alert in the protection of children in particular girls.

We commend the government’s efforts to implement the Competence Curriculum, which aims to provide holistic education. However, we emphasize the need for adequate teacher training, resources, and infrastructure to ensure effective implementation. The curriculum’s success relies on addressing these challenges and ensuring that all children have access to quality education. The Forum belives that such a curriculum has the potential to inculcate values and morals in leaners who will develop into responsible adults that will not indulge in criminal activities such as defiling children. It will promote the inculcation of values that would lead to reduced defilement cases we are experiencing as a country.

We are equally concerned about the pattern of irresponsible media reporting on child abuse and health-related stories, particularly the exposure of children’s identities or pictures. Journalists often carelessly show the faces of children in a bid to solicit help, compromising their right to privacy and potentially causing long-term harm. We urge the media to uphold ethical reporting standards, protecting children’s identities and dignity in accordance with international and national child protection guidelines and laws. The general public that utilizes social media spaces is urged to desist from exposing children that are victims of sexual abuse or their relatives.

Call to Action

The National Child Rights Forum Zambia calls upon the government to:

1. Strengthen the enforcement of the Children’s Code Act of 2022 and other related laws or policies aimed at protecting children:

– Review and amend existing laws to ensure they are in line with international conventions and national standards.

– Increase funding for law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate and prosecute cases of child abuse and exploitation.

– Establish a specialized child protection unit within the police service to handle child-related cases.

2. Enhance support services for victims:

– Establish and equip comprehensive support centers for victims of child abuse and exploitation, providing services such as counseling, healthcare, and education.

– Increase funding for organizations providing support services to victims of child abuse and exploitation.

– Develop and implement a national strategy for supporting victims of child abuse and exploitation.

3. Increase funding for child-focused initiatives:

– Allocate a specific percentage of the national budget to programs and initiatives that promote children’s rights, education, and well-being.

– Increase funding for initiatives that address the root causes of child abuse and exploitation, such as poverty and lack of education.

– Support community-based initiatives that promote children’s rights and well-being.

4. Engage with civil society and communities:

– Establish a national child rights platform to facilitate collaboration between government, civil society, and communities.

– Increase funding for community-based initiatives that promote children’s rights and well-being.

– Support the development of child-led initiatives and organizations.

5. Promote responsible media reporting:

– Develop and implement guidelines for responsible media reporting on child-related stories.

– Provide training and capacity-building programs for journalists on child rights and responsible reporting.

– Encourage the media to adopt and uphold ethical reporting standards when dealing with child-related stories.

6. Develop and implement a national child rights strategy:

– Develop a comprehensive national strategy for promoting and protecting children’s rights.

– Establish clear goals, objectives, and indicators for the strategy. – Increase funding for initiatives that support the implementation of the strategy.

7. Increase accountability and transparency:

– Establish an independent child rights commission to monitor and investigate cases of child abuse and exploitation.

– Increase transparency and accountability in government programs and initiatives related to children’s rights.

– Support the development of a national child rights monitoring and evaluation system.

We remain committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to promote and protect children’s rights in Zambia. Together, we can create a safer, more just, and equitable society for all children.