By CHARITY MOONGA –
THE  Civil Society Network on Ending Child Marriages (ECM) in Zambia has bemoaned the continued high prevalence rates of child marriages in the country.
The network recently held a meeting in Chief Mungule’sLukata Village in Chibombo District.
The Network for Ending Child Marriages, which is chaired by the Women in Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) aims to create a platform for the voices of girls and boys to be heard.
The network,  is a coalition of Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders that work on various projects targeting to end child marriages in Zambia.
“The prevalence of child marriages remains unacceptably high in Zambia and this is the reason why The Civil Society Network on Ending Child Marriages (ECM) in Zambia in which WLSA Chairs, was launched,” the network stated
The Network for Ending Child Marriages whose goal is to “create a platform for the voices of girls and boys to be heard” is a coalition of Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders that work on various projects targeting to End Child Marriages (ECM) in Zambia.
The network has diverse membership of stakeholders whose aim is to advocate for ending child marriage.
The network also collaborates with several cooperating partners and government ministries with both the private and public sectors in this aspect.
WLSA is also the focal point Organisation of the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance on Gender and Development  in Zambia which is coordinated by Gender Links and brings together 15 countries.
Recently, WLSA,  in Partnership with National Prosecutions Authority conducted a six day training workshop for Investigators and Prosecutors on how to prosecute and investigate GBV cases.