Network On Ending Child Marriage In Zambia

On 24th February 2026, the Network on Ending Child Marriage in Zambia (NECMZ) participated in the Gender Division’s Orientation on the National Strategy to End Child Marriage (2026–2030) and its Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

As a Network of 67 member organisations, we remain committed to ensuring that this consolidated national roadmap translates into real, measurable change for girls across Zambia.

The Strategy aligns prevention, protection, coordination, and accountability efforts across sectors and the M&E Framework strengthens the systems that track progress and close gaps.

We commend the Gender Division - GD for its leadership in convening stakeholders and coordinating national action.

We also appreciate our 67 members for their sustained advocacy at community and national levels.

And to our all-weather partners Unicef Zambia and UNFPA Zambia , we thank you for helping us strengthening systems that protect girls and advance their rights.

Now, the focus is clear. We will implement, be accountable and produce results.

Ending child marriage requires collective action and we move forward together.

On Friday 24th November 2025, as the Network on Ending Child Marriage in Zambia (NECMZ) we presented our submissions to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights and Governance on the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The Committee was responsive and supportive, and they engaged deeply with the evidence we shared on bail challenges in defilement, r**e, and in**st cases.

They also advised us to strengthen our submissions by:

-Adding budget considerations across the justice system
- Expanding the section on forensic laboratories, chain of custody, and evidence handling.

We also emphasised the need to strike a fair constitutional balance under Article 18(2), protecting survivors and children while respecting the right to a fair trial and judicial review.

We thank the Committee for their constructive guidance and commitment to strengthening justice for women and children.

Our revised submissions are on the way.

Together, we continue the work to build a justice system that protects every child with dignity and accountability.

Leading the campaign against Child Marriage in Zambia, the SADC region and the African continent.