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The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the combined fifth to seventh periodic report of Zambia, with Committee Experts asking about children exposed to lead contamination in mines and about customary laws which allowed child marriage.

A Committee Expert said it was exciting to note that the bill on the children’s code was being finalised, something that the Committee had been awaiting for years.

Gehad Madi, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Zambia, said the Committee was seriously concerned about hookupme.net the use of child labour in artisan mining and the exposure of these children to high-level lead contamination. How were children being protected, and what remedies were provided for those who became disabled due to lead poisoning or their involvement in mining?

Another Expert noted that the marriage act set the age of marriage at 21 years, yet recognised the practice of customary marriage, which permitted child marriage when the child hit puberty. What was being done to address these cultural traditions and beliefs which existed in Zambian society, particularly in rural areas?

Responding to questions on child labour, the delegation said Zambia had mobilised resources from the World Bank, which were intended to address the exposure of children to high levels of lead. The Government was working closely with partners to implement interventions aimed at addressing the problems which were the result of lead contamination. Heath-related interventions included the blood screening of children, with those found to have a high level of lead provided with the appropriate treatment.

With respect to child marriage, the delegation said there were provisions in the law which indicated that custobian Law Commission was managing the process to ensure a way to eliminate the marriage of children under the age of 18. Lees verder →