ZAMBIA LAUNCHES THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE, WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, AND ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION

Today, the Minister of Justice, Honourable Mulambo Haimbe, launched the Zambian National Committee on the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity, and all forms of Discrimination.

Speaking during the launch of the Committee in Lusaka, Hon. Haimbe stated that Zambia is a contracting party to the Genocide Convention and is mandated to punish persons found guilty of the crime of genocide.

The Minister of Justice further added that Zambia is a member state of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), which also mandates Member States to punish persons found guilty of the crime of genocide and other mass atrocities.

The Minister assured the United Nations system that the launch of the Zambian National Committee on the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity, and all forms of Discrimination is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to fulfill its international and regional obligations in the prevention of genocide and other mass atrocities.

And Permanent Secretary for Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Mwenya Kaela Bwalya, said genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and all forms of discrimination have a huge impact on millions of people and are a serious violation of human rights.

Mrs. Bwalya explained that genocide is a coordinated plan of different actions aimed at the destruction of essential foundations of the lives of national groups.

She observed that war crimes are acts that cause a lot of displacement of population, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of assets as they violate international principles such as humanity, which is premised on respecting human beings and a distinction among civilians and combatants in times of war.

Mrs. Bwalya encouraged the Committee to observe and ensure that war crimes and mass atrocities are not perpetrated in the country and to come up with recommendations on how best Zambia can strengthen its measures in curbing such atrocities.

Speaking at the same event, Under Secretary-General and Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Nderitu, commended the Government for taking a bold step in the prevention of genocide and related crimes.

Ms. Nderitu has since pledged to support the Zambian Government to ensure that it discharges its responsibility to prevent war crimes and mass atrocities.

Ms. Nderitu observed that addressing hate speech and preventing incitement to violence is essential to prevent genocide and related crimes.

She has since called on the Committee to consider the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech for guidance and to utilize it as part of comprehensive strategies to prevent genocide and related crimes.

The composition of the committee is as follows:

1. Office of the President (Special Division)
2. Office of the Vice President
3. Ministry of Justice
4. Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security
5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
6. Ministry of Defence
7. Zambia Army
8. Zambia Air Force
9. Zambian National Service
10. Ministry of Labour and Social Security
11. Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
12. Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
13. Ministry of Community Development and Social Services
14. Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Arts
15. Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
16. Ministry of Information and Media
17. Ministry of Finance and National Planning
18. Ministry of Education
19. Ministry of Health
20. National Assembly
21. Human Rights Commission
22. University of Zambia (School of Law)
23. Dag Hammarskjold Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

(Copperbelt University)

24. Zambia Red Cross Society
25. National Technical Committee on the Prevention of Genocide

(3 members)