Introduction:
The Republic of Zambia (Zambia) ratified the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (the African Charter) on 10 January 1984, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol) on 7 June 2006, and the Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (the Kampala Convention) on 14 January 2011.
In accordance with the Charter's Article 62 and Maputo protocol's Article 26 provisions, Zambia submitted its Combined 1st to 7th Periodic Report on 2 November 2023. The report covers the period from 2005 to 2019 and includes a Section on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol.
Previously, in February 2006, Zambia submitted its Initial Report under the Charter (1986-2004), which was considered during the ACHPR 41st Ordinary Session, held in Accra/ Ghana from 16 to 30 May 2007.
Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Zambia were adopted by the Commission during the same 41 st Ordinary Session.
The present report was reviewed virtually on 12 May 2023, in the framework of the ACHPR 75th Ordinary (Hybrid) Session, held in Banjul/ by zoom from May 3rd to 23rd May 2023.
A Zambian high-level delegation, led by H.E. Mulambo Haimbe, SC, MP, Minister of Justice, attended the review virtually.
The Commission expresses its appreciations for the presentation of the Report by the high-level delegation from Zambia, and the constructive dialogue that followed the presentation.
During the review, the Zambian Delegation informed that additional written replies to questions that were not addressed in the presentation, will be provided subsequently. On 20 June 2023, the Commission received a written contribution from the Embassy of Zambia in Addis Ababa.
The Periodic Report under review highlights developments in Zambia in the promotion and protection of human and peoples' rights, as well as legislative, administrative and judicial measures taken in the framework of the implementation of the African Charter provisions, for the period 2005-2019.
At the normative level, the Commission notes with satisfaction the ratification by Zambia of several human rights instruments during the period under review, as well as the adoption of several policies and frameworks dealing with human rights, such as the 8th National Development Plan.
At the institutional level, the Commission welcomes the establishment by the Government of Zambia (GoZ) of the Police Public Complaints Commission, the Office of the Public Protector, the Department of Resettlement, the Legal Aid Board, and the Judicial Complaints Commission.
Zambia acknowledges the existence of challenges relating to human rights promotion, inter alia, limited human and financial resources.
The present Concluding Observations provides an account of the positive aspects and the factors restricting the enjoyment of human rights in Zambia. It also highlights areas of concern identified in the Report and from additional information provided during the review.
Finally, the Commission makes recommendations to Zambia on measures needed to strengthen the enjoyment of human rights, as guaranteed by the African Charter, the Maputo Protocol as well as other relevant regional and international human rights instruments.
