Young children from across all the 10 provinces of Zambia have convened at the 2024 African Children pre-summit launch in Lusaka to discuss wide-ranging issues affecting them.

Climate change, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, access to quality health and education, and early marriages are some of the topics being discussed to find long-lasting solutions to protect children from their adverse effects.

Under the pre-summit theme “Seen, Heard, and Engaged”, the government has since acknowledged the various challenges affecting children with an assurance to address them amicably.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Ms Doreen Mwamba has expressed worry at the high prevalence of child marriages in Zambia which she said is a significant impediment to the realization of children’s rights.

She said the government, in collaboration with various stakeholders, is therefore vigorously campaigning against child marriages and other vices that hinder children from achieving their dreams.

“We have enacted laws and policies to protect children from this harmful practice and are actively working to change societal attitudes through awareness and education programs”, she said.

Ms Mwamba said this in a speech read on her behalf by the Director for Child Development, Mrs Beatrice Muyambango during the official opening of the two day pre-summit yesterday.

And Mbabala Member of Parliament and Chairperson for the parliamentary caucus on Children’s rights, Mr Joseph Munsanje said Zambia which has time immemorial been grappling to effectively address child rights issues has now been privileged with the enactment of the Children’s Code Act to overcome such challenges.

And in a call to action, African Children’s Summit chairperson George Kande, advocated for children to be given a voice to speak about issues that affect them, stating that, ” when children are seen, their unique contributions are heard, and when engaged, they become active agents of progress”.