By Sara Larios | Executive Director
Thanks to your support, UP Zambia finished 2025 strong.
In the last half of the year, UP Zambia's legal services and social services teams were active on the frontlines of child justice.
Starting from our work at the police station level, 129 children received advise from the police station, which resulted in 52 children having the case against them withdrawn and 29 children being diverted instead of having their cases escalated to the juvenile courts.
And addiitonal 209 children received legal support through UP Zambia's legal help desks in 5 correctional facilities and through the juvenile courts. UP Zambia attorneys represented 22 children in their trial proceedings before the Juvenile Courts and Children's Courts.
Continuing our work in the Anti Human Trafficking space, UP Zambia screened 69 children in custody for human trafficking indicators. Two of these children were identified to be suspected victims of human trafficking and referred to the Anti Human Trafficking Department. UP Zambia's social support team was able to support these two children with trauma informed care.
Our social support team worked hand in hand with our legal team. 60 of our child clients received psychological assessments and individual counselling. 10 children were provided with were supported with reintegration services, including family therapy, to promote a smooth and supported return to their communities.
The UP Zambia team is looking forward broadening our services in 2026, when we will move beyond Lusaka District to begin providing legal services and social support in neighboring Chongwe District and Kafue District. Prior to UP Zambia getting involved, these two districts did not have any organizations providing legal service to children. By UP Zambia beginning to engage at the police station and court level, the children of Chongwe and Kafue will have access to child friendly legal services for the first time. We are exciting for the new partnerships that we will form with the government justice actors in these districts and look forward to service the children, families, and communitys of Chongwe and Kafue in 2026.
We will be grateful for your continued support as we advance our mission to provide free legal and social service to children in Zambia and to transform the child justice system one district at a time.
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