Government says the nation’s current practice of detaining children in adult cells is a violation of several provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international instruments.
Central Province Permanent Secretary, Denny Lumbama, said in Kabwe today that placing children with adults whilst in detention exposed them to negative influences of adult criminal culture. He said this is because children are vulnerable and susceptible to negative influences and outside pressures.
Mr Lumbama was speaking when Kabwe Child Justice Forum (KCJF) handed over a rehabilitated male children’s cell at Kasanda Police station.He said children had less experience and control over their own surrounding environment and added that detaining them in adult suspects’ facilities was an insidious form of child abuse.
Mr Lumbama explained that children should be treated with rehabilitative services as opposed to punishment because they were still developing emotionally, socially and physically. He said if child justice was not addressed now, the nation will be setting a time bomb by raising children with criminal minds.
He called for concerted efforts in preventing children from unnecessarily moving into the criminal justice system and helping those already in the system to grow up into responsible citizens.
Mr. Lumbama commended UNICEF, Plan International and Tuskers Hotel management and other institutions for the financial support rendered towards achieving the objectives.
The rehabilitated cell was furnished with new mattresses and blankets.
ZANIS
this is a no brainer – you don’t need an “international” convention or organization to tell you that.
# 1 you so right? Iyi ni ‘daaah’ situation. Lumbama taught me at Secondary School. Nice guy wonder what he doing in Nyama Soya’s government