Human Rights Commission to launch Office of the Commissioner for Children
The Human Rights Commission is to launch the Office of the Commissioner for Children next month aimed at promoting and protecting children’s rights in Zambia in line with the requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The Office of the Commissioner for Children will execute its functions, within the mandate of the Human Rights Commission provided for under article 125 of the Constitution of Zambia, which include, but is not limited to investigation of violation of children’s rights, investigation of maladministration of justice, inspection of standards of childcare in prisons and institutions of care as well as research, awareness and sensitization on children’s rights.
Speaking when she featured on “The Human Rights Commission at Work” programme on Parliament Radio on 18th March”, Chairperson for the Commission’s Children’s Rights Committee Pastor Godfrida Sumaili, who is also a Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission said that Children are the future of mankind.
“Whatever we do at all times, let’s ensure we do it in the best interest of the child,” she encouraged. “There is no doubt that in the efforts to promote and protect human rights, children are not being reached and the issues affecting them have not been addressed effectively.”
She added that it is this gap which drew the attention of the Commission into putting in place the Office of the Commissioner for Children so that the rights of children are given special attention.
Commissioner Sumaili said: “We will put in a lot of effort to sensitize people on the rights of the child, in addition to monitoring implementation of the CRC, which Zambia signed in September 1990 and ratified on December 6, 1991, and promoting accountability on children’s rights at all levels.”
The Office of Commissioner for Children will be open to the public and will receive and investigate any complaints of children’s rights abuse, and that will encompass recommendations of the necessary actions to remedy the infringement of children’s rights.
“The work is big and Zambia is vast with over 50% of the population being children who are affected by lots of issues – poverty, HIV/AIDS, child labour, no education and lack of access to proper healthcare,” she said adding that the Office would require working with all stakeholders at all levels in addressing the rights of children.
During its first ever visit to state correctional facilities – Katombora Reformatory School in Livingstone, Nakambala Approved School in Mazabuka, and Insakwe Probation Hostel for Girls in Ndola – the Office of the Commissioner for Children noted that minimum childcare standards are not being observed and that there remains a lot to be done in ensuring the quality of life for children.
A Public Hearing on violence against children, which was held by the Commission in September last year under the theme “Our Right To Be Protected From Violence” revealed that vulnerable and disadvantaged children such as orphans and children on the street suffer the most violence.
The Commission, with the support of Save the Children Norway and Sweden, had earlier visited a number of countries including Mauritius, Norway, Nigeria and Sweden, to learn about the establishment and functions of the Office of Commissioner for Children in those countries.
The efforts to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Children have been supported by many stakeholders working with the Commission on children’s rights, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children Norway and Sweden, and Children In Need Network (CHIN).