Zambia

Country Profile

Zambia is a landlocked country in south-east Africa. It has a population of 11.9 million people. From being one of the richest countries in Africa at independence in 1964 it has become one of the poorest. Approximately two thirds of the population live on less than one US dollar per day.

In recent years Zambia has made sustained economic progress and is now regarded as a country that may well meet the Millennium Development Goal targets in some areas. Zambia is currently achieving a 5.5 per growth rate per annum. As one of the countries that benefited from the debt relief negotiated at the 2005 Gleneagles G8 Summit, Zambia has seen its external debt decline from $7.1 billion to $0.5 billion. This means that Zambia has had the capacity in recent years to apply some of its revenue from its copper mining resource to crucial investment areas such as health and education.

Fight against HIV/AIDS

That said, Zambia remains one of the frontline countries in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. It is one of the African nations with the highest urban incidence of HIV/AIDS. One in every six adults is living with HIV and life expectancy in Zambia has fallen below 40 years. Neglect and reluctance by politicians to acknowledge the seriousness of the epidemic has meant that the essential awareness-raising, treatment and preventive measures have been inadequately implemented. In addition, the failure to address cultural stigmas attaching to persons with HIV/AIDS has exacerbated the situation.

Edmund Rice people in Zambia, both Christian Brothers and colleagues, have become involved in civil society initiatives combatting HIV/AIDS. They are also to the fore in promoting cultural and attitudinal change to develop more inclusive and positive community responses to persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Education and HIV/AIDS

Father Michael Kelly SJ is closely identified with initiatives combatting community stigma and exclusion in relation to HIV/AIDS. He has also documented the negative impact of HIV/AIDs on education in Zambia and in the Caribbean. In a country where teachers are in short supply, HIV/AIDS continues to decimate teacher supply through high levels of mortality due to the disease. However, more significantly, Professor Kelly's research demonstrates the positive contribution that education makes in the struggle against the pandemic in Zambia. Not just education about HIV/AIDS but any education. Access to education means that public measures to combat HIV/AIDS become more effective, particularly when such access increases participation by women and girls.

Education in Zambia is on the frontline in ensuring that Zambia and its people can be successful in their struggle against HIV/AIDS. For this reason, the Right to Education is an essential human rights component within a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDs in Zambia.

Promoting Human Rights at the International Level: Zambia

Children and Young People in Zambia © Franciscans International

Franciscans International and ERI Partnership in Action

Human Rights Council: UN Reform

Geneva is a busy place right now. The United Nations Human Rights Council is concluding its first fully operational year following the transition from the old Commission on Human Rights. This was an important element in the United Nations reform process initiated some years ago by Kofi Annan. Some years ago Ivan Illich, the famous 1960s radical education reformer, argued in Deschooling Society that institutions are rarely capable of reforming themselves. Many people tend to hold the same view of the United Nations.

Governments are Accountable: Universal Periodic Review

But they could be wrong if the current Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process taking place at the Human Rights Council is an indication. Previously only countries against whom allegations of neglect or abuse of human righs were required to submit reports to the United Nations. Now the system is more equitable. All countries must submit reports to and appear before the Human Rights Council every four years. If this year is anything to go by the evidence is clear. Countries are taking the process seriously and engagement with the process suggests that positive and meaningful outcomes are achievable.

Involvement of Civil Society

A feature of the process is the involvement of civil society organisations. International organisations and local groups are invited to make submissions. This has already had an important beneficial outcome in spurring international NGOs to consult widely and deeply with their local grassroots affiliates. Equally, organisations on the ground in different countries see in the Universal Periodic Review process a valuable and relevant form of access to the United Nations mechanisms. It is a new forum for the world's poor, oppressed and those marginalised by injustice.

Christian Brothers in Zambia

This year Zambia happens to be one of the countries under review as part of the Universal Periodic Review process. There has been an Edmund Rice presence in Zambia since 1966 when the Christian Brothers established their first secondary schools in that country shortly after independence. Christian Brothers and their colleagues are very knowledgeable concerning access to education and the quality of educational provision in Zambia. Indeed, a Christian Brother, Brother John Meade, has been General Secretary of the Catholic Church's Education Commission for many years. Many other Brothers have been involved in developing new forms of access to education through skills training centres and community education initiatives.

ERI Contribution to the Universal Periodic Review

Edmund Rice International contributed to the Franciscans International submission on Zambia as part of the NGO dialogue with the Government of Zambia in the context of the Universal Periodic Review. The Edmund Rice International component of the submission focused on the Right to Education. On the basis of information communicated to Edmund Rice International by grassroots representatives in Zambia some questions were raised in relation to educational provision in that country. In addition, specific recommendations were made to the Government of Zambia within the constructive dialogue process involving the Human Rights Council members, NGO representatives and the Zambia delegation.

UPR Process is Working

Clearly, the Universal Periodic Review process is already proving to be a valuable tool for local and international NGOs and civil society generally in addressing issues of concern. It is a sign of hope and confidence for the future.

See the Synopsis of NGO Submissions on Zambia on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

See also an excerpt from the OHCR Synopsis based on the joint Franciscans International and Edmund Rice International submission

UPR Process is Working

See the Synopsis of NGO Submissions on Zambia on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

See also an excerpt from the OHCR Synopsis based on the joint Franciscans International and Edmund Rice International submission