The main function of the Department is to promote adherence to, observance of domestic, International Law, and agreements in order to contribute to good governance. The legal basis for this is Article 177(5) (d) of the Constitution of Zambia, which enjoins the Attorney-General to give advice on an agreement, treaty or convention to which Government intends to become a party or in respect of which the Government has an interest before they are concluded.
The Department is comprised of two Units, namely, Agreements and Treaties Unit and the Human Rights Unit.
The specific functions of the Department are as follows:
I. To peruse and negotiate agreements, contracts, treaties, conventions and documents to which the
Government is a party or in respect of which the Government has an interest. Examples of such
Documents include:
(a) Contracts for the procurement of goods and services;
(b) Treaties or conventions concluded under multilateral and regional organizations, for instance, the United
Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC); and
(c) Bilateral agreements, for example, Double Taxation Agreements, Reciprocal Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreements, extradition Treaties and Agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters;

II. Attend to international human rights issues in accordance with the Ratification of International Agreements Act, No. 34 of 2016, as follows:
(a) Preparation and submission of periodic reports to international bodies;
(b) Preparation of responses to queries raised by international human rights bodies on behalf of Zambia; and
(c) Generally answering to all issues relating to international Human rights law on behalf of the Government.
III. To collect and rationalize international agreements that Zambia has signed; and
IV. Attend to requests for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition.