THE CHILDREN’S CODE ACT: High-Way to Progressivity?

This week’s Monday Opinion examines the Children’s Code Act, No.12 of 2022, a recently enacted piece of law. For the first time in the country’s history, there is a comprehensive piece of law governing children (persons below the age of 18), thanks to this statute. Briefly stated, Zambia has been a signatory to both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child since 1991 and 1992, respectively. The adoption of efficient legislative and administrative measures to advance and promote children’s rights is required under these international and regional accords. Given that these Treaties were ratified nearly 30 years ago, the enactment of the Children’s Code Act has been long overdue.

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