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Judiciary of Zambia

The Judiciary of Zambia is the Chair of the Child Justice Forum and the host institution of the CJF Secretariat.

Role in the CJF

• Chairs all national CJF meetings and provides institutional leadership
• Hosts the CJF Secretariat at the Magistrates Court Complex, Lusaka
• Provides judicial oversight of child-friendly court implementation
• Ensures judicial officers are trained in child-sensitive proceedings
• Issues practice directions to magistrates on handling child cases

Key Contributions

The Judiciary has driven the establishment of dedicated children's courts in major urban centres and champions the use of diversion over custodial sentences for children. Magistrates courts under the Judiciary's oversight are the primary implementation sites for child-friendly court reforms.

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Zambia Police Service

As the first point of contact for children in conflict with the law, the Zambia Police Service plays a critical frontline role in the CJF's work.

Role in the CJF

• Primary implementer of Child Victims & Witnesses (CVW)
• Trained in child-sensitive arrest and custody procedures
• Required to separate children from adult offenders at all times
• Must notify social welfare officers upon arresting a child
• Participates in diversion decisions at the pre-charge stage

Training & Reform

CJF conducts regular training workshops for police officers on child rights, the Children's Code Act, and CVW protocols. Dedicated child-friendly interview rooms have been established at select police stations in pilot districts.

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National Prosecution Authority

The NPA makes prosecutorial decisions that determine whether a child enters the formal court system or is diverted to community-based programmes.

Role in the CJF

• Reviews arrest files and decides on prosecution vs. diversion
• Trained to apply the best-interests-of-the-child principle in all decisions
• Works with social welfare to assess suitability for diversion
• Participates in CJF stakeholder coordination meetings
• Advocates for restorative justice approaches in child cases

Impact

Through CJF coordination, the NPA has significantly increased the use of diversion as an alternative to prosecution for first-time and minor child offenders, reducing the number of children entering formal court proceedings.

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Zambia Correctional Services

ZCS manages correctional facilities where children may be held as a last resort, and works with the CJF to ensure children's rights are upheld in custody.

Role in the CJF

• Ensures children are held separately from adult offenders in all facilities
• Implements rehabilitation and education programmes within facilities
• Partners with CJF on resource mobilisation for children in detention
• Facilitates family contact and reintegration planning for detained children
• Reports on conditions and welfare of children in correctional facilities

Reforms Achieved

Through CJF advocacy, dedicated juvenile wings have been established or upgraded in several correctional facilities, and education and vocational training programmes are now operational for children in custody.

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Legal Aid Board

The Legal Aid Board ensures that children who cannot afford legal representation receive free, qualified legal assistance throughout the justice process.

Role in the CJF

• Provides free legal representation to children in conflict with the law
• Trains paralegals to support children at police stations and courts
• Advocates for bail and non-custodial measures for children
• Attends CJF coordination meetings to coordinate legal services
• Produces child-friendly legal information materials

Access to Justice

The Legal Aid Board's presence within the CJF framework ensures that no child faces the justice system without representation, a critical safeguard particularly in rural and under-served districts.

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Social Welfare Department

Social welfare officers are the backbone of diversion and case management for children in the justice system, providing assessments, family support, and referrals.

Role in the CJF

• Conducts social background reports for children appearing in court
• Manages diversion case files and monitors community-based sentences
• Provides counselling and psychosocial support to children and families
• Coordinates family reintegration and aftercare for released children
• Operates Children's Courts as the lead welfare officer

Diversion Leadership

Social welfare officers lead the implementation of the Diversion Programme at district level, conducting assessments, convening diversion panels, and monitoring the progress of diverted children through their community programmes.

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Human Rights Commission

The HRC provides independent oversight of children's rights within the justice system, monitoring conditions and advocating for systemic reform.

Role in the CJF

• Monitors conditions in police cells, courts, and correctional facilities
• Investigates complaints of rights violations against children
• Produces reports on child rights compliance for the CJF
• Advocates for legislative and policy reforms aligned with international standards
• Provides human rights training to justice sector personnel

Oversight Role

As an independent constitutional body, the HRC provides credible external oversight that strengthens the accountability of all CJF member institutions and ensures Zambia's child justice system is aligned with UNCRC obligations.

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UNICEF Zambia

UNICEF has been the CJF's longest-standing and most significant development partner, supporting both the Forum's establishment and its major programme interventions.

History of Support

• Co-funded the 2000 situational analysis that led to the CJF's creation
• Provided seed funding for the CJF's establishment in 2001
• Supported development of the national Diversion Programme (launched Dec 2018)
• Funded Trainer of Trainers programmes across pilot districts
• Provides ongoing technical assistance and programme review support

Current Engagement

UNICEF continues to fund and technically support CJF's programme expansion, child-friendly court reforms, and policy advocacy. UNICEF also links CJF to global best practices and international child justice standards.

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GIZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

GIZ, Germany's development cooperation agency, provides technical and financial support for CJF institutional capacity and programme delivery.

Areas of Support

• Institutional capacity building for CJF Secretariat operations
• Technical support for training curricula development
• Funding for child justice programme implementation
• Knowledge exchange with international child justice networks
• Support for monitoring and evaluation of CJF programmes

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CIDRZ – Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia

CIDRZ provides research, data collection, and program implementation support to strengthen the evidence base for CJF interventions.

Contributions

• Conducts research on outcomes for children in the justice system
• Provides data on health and welfare needs of children in custody
• Supports monitoring and evaluation of CJF programme effectiveness
• Links health data to justice system reform recommendations

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Save The Children Zambia

Save The Children provides financial resources and technical expertise to support CJF programmes focused on child protection and justice reform.

Areas of Support

• Funding for community-level child justice awareness programmes
• Technical support for child-friendly communication materials
• Advocacy for legislative reforms protecting children's rights
• Support for child participation in justice system reform processes
• Training of community-based child protection volunteers