Zambia Pushes for Greater Justice and Equality for Women at UN Forum
Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equality and improving access to justice for women and girls during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) held at the United Nations Headquarters.
Delivering the national statement, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Chola Milambo, highlighted the country’s continued implementation of global frameworks, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Dr Milambo outlined a series of legislative and policy measures aimed at strengthening access to justice, including the establishment of victim-centred and trauma-informed systems, specialised courts, and improved coordination across police, prosecution and medical services.
He noted that Government is also covering key costs associated with accessing justice to reduce barriers for survivors.
Zambia has also intensified efforts to combat child marriage through the Children’s Code Act and the Marriage Amendment Act, supported by broader legal frameworks such as the Penal Code, the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act and the Gender Equity and Equality Act.
To further support survivors, the country has introduced innovative measures, including the use of confiscated assets to establish shelters and the creation of remote evidence centres, enabling victims to testify safely outside traditional courtrooms.
On governance, Dr Milambo highlighted constitutional reforms aimed at enhancing inclusivity, noting that the Constitution Amendment Act No. 13 of 2025 introduces a mixed-member proportional representation system reserving seats for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
He added that Zambia continues to make progress in promoting women’s leadership, with women holding key positions such as Vice President, Speaker of the National Assembly and Minister of Justice.
As the African Union Champion on Ending Child Marriage, Zambia is also prioritising girls’ education through the Free Education Policy, improved school re-entry guidelines and expanded school feeding programmes.
The Government is further strengthening maternal health services and scaling up social protection initiatives through the Constituency Development Fund, which supports school infrastructure, healthcare delivery and women-led community projects.
Zambia reiterated its commitment to advancing policies and partnerships that promote justice, equality and inclusive development for women and girls.
