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.