Human Rights Commission of Zambia

Mandate

The mandate of the Human Rights Commission is to promote and protect human rights for all people in Zambia. The functions of the Commission are basically investigative, educative and advisory.

The Human Rights Commission is an independent constitutional body established under Article 125 of the Constitution of Zambia. Its autonomy is guaranteed by Article 125(2) of the Constitution and Section 3 of the Human Rights Commission Act No. 39 of 1996. The Commission has a broad mandate to promote and protect human rights as outlined in its constitutive Act.

Functions

In order to fulfill its broad mandate, the Commission is empowered by Sections 9 and 10 of the Human Rights Commission Act No. 39 of 1996 to:

• investigate human rights violations
• investigate any mal administration of justice
• propose effective measures to prevent human rights abuses
• visit prisons and other places of detention and related facilities with a view to assessing and inspecting conditions of the persons held in such places and make recommendations to redress existing problems
• establish a continuing program of research, education, information and rehabilitation of victims of
• human rights abuse to enhance the respect for and protection of human rights
• do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the functions of the Commission

Contact information

Email: phrc@zamnet.zm/ hrc@zamtel.zm

Human Rights Commission
Human Rights House
Independence Avenue
P.O. Box 33812
Lusaka
Zambia
Tel: +260-211-251327, +260-211-251357
Fax: +260-211-251342