Ministry of Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Angela Kawandami has reaffirmed Zambia’s dedication to eradicating child marriage during an event at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, co-hosted with Canada.
Ms. Kawandami highlighted several initiatives aimed at combating child marriage, including the Children’s Code Act, the Re-entry Policy, the Amended Marriage Act, and the provision of free education.
Despite these efforts, she acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly the persistence of child marriage and teen pregnancies exacerbated by drought conditions faced by the country.
The Permanent Secretary also emphasized the need for improved real-time data on child marriage prevalence, stating that with just six years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including the target to end Child Marriage by 2030, utilizing data is crucial for effective change.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kawangami has announced that Zambia will host the 11th International Conference for Child Helplines next year, aiming to strengthen international collaboration on child rights and violence prevention.
