Advocacy for Child Justice

ACJ's primary puporse is to advocate for better children's rights in Zambia, through supporting the elaboration of policies and laws, as well as their implementation. Conducting monitoring and reporting on the situation of children's rights to the UNCRC and ACRWC. In the past 14 years, ACJ has implemented various interventions ranging from the advocacy and promotion of child rights, advocating against all forms of child abuse, including child labor, advocating for a favorable legal framework for the proper development of children in Zambia, policy change advocacy, community education on legal rights, provision, and facilitation of legal advice to various beneficiaries and stakeholders and promotion of social development services pertaining to children in need of help. ACJ has been advocating for favorable policy and legal environment to ensure that Zambia is in line with international instruments and through submissions to Parliament and advocacy meetings. ACJ was instrumental in the formulation of the Child Code draft Bill which has since been enacted as the Children’s Code Act (CCA) No. 12 of 2022. Currently, ACJ is working on securing funds to see the CCA implemented and understood by all stakeholders. ACJ's primary activities are different types of advocacy initiatives to further children's rights, this includes capacity building relevant stakeholders. Other activities are monitoring the situation of children's rights in Zambia and presenting reports to the UNCRC and ACRWC. Providing free legal aid to children and their families in conflict with the law through the Legal Aid Desk in Ndola. Managing two community centers, one in Ndola (Copperbelt Province) and one in Lusaka (Lusaka Province). Most of these activities are realized through partnerships with international and national organizations. Thus, ACJ has great experience with project proposals, management, implementation, monitoring and reporting.