By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –

ZAMBIA has made progress towards meeting children’s rights, European Union (EU) head of delegation to Zambia Gilles Hervio, has said.
Mr Hervio said although the country had made some improvements, children remained extremely vulnerable as they were still prey to distinguished abuse.
He was speaking during the 25th anniversary of the convention of the rights of the child at Parliament Building in Lusaka yesterday.
“Whilst I recognise that progress has been made in Zambia in a number of areas for example, social programmes have been expanded to meet children’s needs and the Parliamentary Caucus on Children was established to place child rights at the centre of legislative and constitutional reforms, there is however still a long way to go,” he said.
Mr Hervio was hopeful that the country’s efforts to ensure children’s’ rights were considered in the constitutional review process.
He hailed Government’s calls to criminalise child marriages in the country as the consequences of the practicewas terrible for young girls and society.
The EU is actively involved in children’s rights and is currently working with the UNICEF and supports a mother and child health programme amounting to 50 million Euros targeted to “Reduce Child Mortality” and Improve Maternal Health” contained in the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.
National Assembly committees Deputy Chairperson Chifumu Banda expressed concern that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) had not yet been domesticated in full although the review of children related legislations had been carried out.
Mr Banda said there was need for the world to look back at the achievements made in the last 25 years since the UNCRC came into being.
The Parliamentary Caucus on Children (PCC) Chairperson Munji Habeenzu said the caucus had developed a consultative plan and ensured that children’s rights were enshrined in the constitution.
Mr Habeenzu said signatories to the UNCRC, the PCC and MPs must ensure children avoided spending their early years in less emotionally supportive environments.