JUNE 16. - DAY OF THE - AFRICAN CHILD

This is a call to take a step back and reflect on the policy actions that hinge on the fulfilment of the rights of the child. [...] Zambia like many other African countries has ratified key international and regional human rights instruments about children, namely; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in 2008, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention Against the Worst Forms of Child Labour, among others. [...] Recently, Government strengthened its resolve in providing universal access to education through the expansion of the Free Education Policy to include secondary education and improve the quality of education while promoting equal opportunities for girls, learners with disabilities, and the vulnerable. [...] Similarly, the expansion of the Constituency Development Fund to cater for the needs of the education sector and the provision of bursaries for learners from vulnerable households will contribute to the advancement of their wellbeing through education and skills development which are the cornerstone of sustainable and inclusive development. [...] The Government has also developed policies such as the National Child Policy, Alternative Care Guidelines, the National Plan of Action on Ending Child Marriage, and the National Online Child Protection Strategy, among others, to ensure a conducive environment for the well-being of children.