UP Zambia:Free Legal & Social Support for Children

At UP Zambia, we believe that every child deserves equal access to justice, yet many children still go through court without proper legal representation. To bridge this gap, our legal officers conduct weekly routine checks at subordinate courts to identify children in need of representation or legal advice. Most children enter the justice system without understanding court processes, making this support critical.

A notable development came when a magistrate requested full representation for all children in his court, regardless of their plea. This aligns with the Children’s Code Act, which requires that children must have access to free legal representation. This bold step is a significant move toward ensuring fairness and equity for children navigating the justice system.

Between April and June 2025, UP Zambia was able to reach 54 children with vital legal services:

• 16 children received free legal representation in court.
• 38 children were given legal advice to help them understand their rights and navigate proceedings.
• 4 cases involved parent tracing, ensuring court sessions could proceed with guardians present.
• 2 children were successfully granted bail, sparing them prolonged exposure to police cells or prisons where they risk negative influence from adult detainees.

Thanks to your continued financial support, these interventions are not just numbers they represent real lives protected, futures preserved, and dignity restored of children and their families.

Thank you for the support you have shown to Undikumbukire Project Zambia (UP Zambia) during the first quarter of 2025. Your generous financial contributions and continued partnership have made a tangible difference in the lives of children in conflict with the law.

Thanks to your support, 276 children received legal services in Lusaka Remand Correctional Facilities and police stations. These efforts would not have been possible without your belief in our mission and your commitment to justice for every child.

In Q1, UP Zambia provided legal services at the Lusaka Remand Correctional Facility and six police stations across Lusaka. Our team worked tirelessly to:

• Trace and reconnect children with their families ready for trial,
• Divert eligible cases away from the formal court system,
• Conduct educational sessions on children's rights, conflict resolution, substance abuse, and anti-violence initiatives to better prepare them for reintegration into their communities.

Here’s what your support helped us achieve:

• 244 children aged 15–18 accessed legal help through our help desks,
• 32 children aged 13–18 were successfully diverted from the criminal justice system (Diversion refers to directing children away from the formal court system. Its main benefit is that it offers children a second chance while protecting them from the harmful impacts of the justice system).

Quarter Highlight:
One of the most powerful stories this quarter is that of a 17-year-old boy charged with trafficking narcotic and psychotropic substances. Arrested alongside an adult, he was identified and assisted through our legal help desk at Lusaka Remand Correctional Facility. Represented by our Staff Attorneys, his case was heard in the Children’s Court during the concluded Children’s Criminal Session. On February 24, 2025, he was acquitted and released after spending more than two months in custody.

Today, he has the chance to rebuild his life and that second chance was made possible because of you.

At UP Zambia, we remain deeply committed to ensuring that every child receives fair representation and the opportunity to thrive. Your continued support is the foundation of this work, and we are truly grateful.