Justice for Children (JCT)

JCT is a non-profit organisation registered with the law Society thus it has a certificate to practice law in Zimbabwe. JCT’s Vision is to see a Zimbabwe in which all children have access to justice and enjoy their human rights. Its Mission is to promote and ensure access to transformative justice and enjoyment of human rights by children. JCT’s work is embedded in child protection with particular emphasis on the human rights of children irrespective of their gender, age and status. In its infancy stages, the organization’s work was centered on separating children’s legal issues from women’s issues and this was done through sensitizing communities and stakeholders on the laws that were in existence whilst ensuring provision of legal services to children. From 2010 to date, the organisation strengthened its advocacy to ensure that children’s laws are reviewed and revised to be in line with the socio -economic and political realities of children in the 21st century. The advocacy agenda resulted in the 2013 constitution that have a section that protect the rights of children whilst from 2013 to date the organisation has been advocating for the alignment of the various laws to the constitution whilst strengthening the capacity of duty bearers on their roles and responsibilities as provided by the constitution and making these roles known by the rights holders so that they hold duty bearers accountable. JCT has implemented various projects whose thrust is to build the capacity of NGO staff members, their community cadres and also community members on the laws that protect children in contact and in conflict with the law and this has seen the formation of a strong movement of community paralegals in various communities at district, provincial and national level.