Zambia's Government Accepts Campaign Challenge

April 2005: The campaign successfully launched in Zambia on the 22 April with a press conference attended by the Deputy Home Affairs Minister.

Plan's Country Director in Zambia, John Morris pointed out to the gathered politicians and media that more than 90 per cent of the 1.7 million children under the age of five in Zambia do not have birth certificates. In rural areas that grows to 94 per cent. In presenting these figures John said "It is also incumbent upon government to provide sufficient resources to register every child without discrimination and raise awareness through promotional campaigns". He called on government to decentralise registration points to local facilities easily accessible to rural communities.

The campaign launch ended with a speech by the Deputy Home Affairs Minister during which he accepted John's comments and highlighted the Zambian's government's plan to turn its birth registration policy into reality by decentralising the issuing of certificates to provincial and district levels, and creating a public relations unit to mount rigorous awareness campaigns.

Over 20 journalists representing six radio stations, four national newspapers and the national television station covered the launch of the campaign.

In the coming months, national level activities will centre on working with the Zambian government to push for the parliamentary bill which will allow for the decentralisation of registration services and adequate staffing.