UP Zambia:Free Legal & Social Support for Children

Overview
In 2024, Undikumbukire Project Zambia (UP Zambia) advanced its mission to support children in conflict with the law through free legal and social services. By providing vital aid to both children and adults, UP Zambia contributed significantly to improving access to justice, reducing detention times, and protecting children's rights in Zambia.

Key Achievements

In this reporting period, UP Zambia provided legal aid services to 489 Individuals (100 children, 389 adults) while at court, in the community, and through the legal help desks. 4 Children were legally represented by UP Zambia's staff attorneys and were successfully reintegrated back into their communities and families. 

Looking back to the year in review, UP Zambia provided free legal aid services to 572 children while 59 children were legally represented. 1419 adults were given legal advice through the established legal help desks in the facilities.

Through these strategic inteventions, the child justice system saw a 60% reduction in detention periods for children, ensuring timely resolutions and minimizing the harm of prolonged detention.

On the other hand, UP Zambia also engaged in community sensitization and awareness campaigns where 432 Individuals were reached through sensitization campaigns, empowering communities with knowledge of legal rights and processes.

 It was also encouraging and hope strengthening to see so many stories of impact and hope for children in the system. Some notable stories of impact were: 

1. Securing Freedom and Reuniting Families
   A young man, detained at 16 and accused of a serious offense, maintained his innocence throughout his four-year detention. In collaboration with the Legal Aid Board, UP Zambia secured constitutional bail, and he was reunited with his family. He celebrated his 20th birthday at home just one week after his release.
2. Advocating for Age Accuracy
   An 18-year-old girl was wrongly charged as an adult due to a police error in recording her age. UP Zambia successfully applied for an age determination examination under the Children’s Code Act. The court ruled in favor of the child, setting a significant legal precedent that medical assessments should prioritize the child’s best interests. The case continues in the children's court, ensuring her rights are safeguarded.

 Conclusion

As we reflect on 2024, we are proud of the strides we have made in restoring justice and protecting the rights of children in Zambia. Through your generous support, we have not only provided legal aid to hundreds of children but also advocated for systemic changes that will leave a lasting impact on our justice system. Together, we have reduced detention periods, reunited families, and given children the chance to grow and thrive with dignity and hope.

It is for this reason that we extend our heartfelt thanks to you our esteemed supporters for standing with us in this mission. Your contributions have been the lifeline for children who might otherwise have faced injustice alone. Yet, the need remains great, and the challenges ahead require even greater resolve.

As we enter 2025, we humbly invite you to continue walking this journey with us. Your generosity can enable us to reach even more children, advocate for broader systemic reforms, and ensure that every child in Zambia has access to justice and the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

May 2025 bring you joy, prosperity, and fulfillment. From all of us at UP Zambia, we wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year filled with peace and hope. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of even greater impact and shared achievements!

Thank you for your generous financial support and additional funding. With your help, Undikumbukire Project Zambia (UP Zambia) has positively impacted 334 children in police stations and correctional facilities between January and June 2024, providing them with free legal services.

In the first and second quarters of 2024, UP Zambia offered legal assistance at the Lusaka Remand Correctional Facility and six police stations in Lusaka. This included tracing parents for children whose cases needed to proceed to trial, as well as conducting informational sessions at Lusaka Remand and police desks. These sessions covered topics such as children's legal rights and responsibilities, conflict resolution, substance abuse, and anti-violence initiatives (including gang prevention) when released within their communities.

Of the 98 clients UP Zambia assisted in court, 42 children received free legal representation at both the Children’s Court (High Court) and the Juvenile Court (Subordinate Court) during the first half of the year. Additionally, 137 children at police stations were assisted, and we facilitated diversion (channeling children away from formal court proceedings) in 47 cases.

In the first quarter, UP Zambia also prepared a preliminary report on the Children’s Code Act Survey, which was conducted in 13 districts in Zambia in the last quarter of 2023. The survey assessed the level of knowledge and implementation of the Children’s Code Act following its enactment in August 2022. Early in 2024 the findings were presented to UNICEF, GIZ, and the European Union (EU), who expressed strong interest. With financial support from GIZ, we engaged a consultant to further analyze the survey data and prepare the final report, which will be validated by stakeholders before publication. The final report is expected to be released in September 2024.

Client Success Story: In collaboration with the Legal Aid Board, UP Zambia successfully secured constitutional bail for a young adult male who appeared at the High Court. He was 16 years old when he was arrested for a serious offense he was accused of, but throughout his detention, he maintained his innocence. After four years in prison, he was finally reunited with his family and celebrated his birthday with them just one week after his release.

We express our gratitude for the invaluable financial support received from you and our partners which has empowered children have access to free legal services in Zambia.