Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Human Rights Commission has called for action against the family of Lusaka’s Rhodes Park area for abusing a thirteen year old girl whom they recruited as a housemaid from Chinsali and later abandoned her to the care of a stranger.
Commission Director Florence Chibwesha says the commission strongly condemns the abuse of the girl and is urging the Police to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that those who would be found wanting face the law.
Ms Chibwesha says the Commission is saddened by the growing trend where poor girls in rural areas are brought to towns and employed as housemaids at the expense of their education.
Commission Director Florence Chibwesha
She says this is a worrying trend which needs to be checked as it not only affects the girl child’s education, but also exposes young girls to a greater risk of being sexually exploited, physically abused or even trafficked.
Ms Chibwesha states that the Commission cautions the public to desist from the practice of engaging young girls as housemaids because it violates children’s rights and the laws that prohibit the employment of under aged persons in any work, such as the Employment of Young Persons and Children Act which sets a minimum age limit of fifteen years.
She adds that the public should also be aware that under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2008, the exploitation of children in domestic settings is prohibited.
She says involving children in domestic work or labour should therefore be seen as a denial of fundamental rights of children such as access to education and health care, the right to rest, leisure, play and recreation, the right to freedom of assembly and association, and the right of a child to grow up in a friendly family environment.
Ms Chibwesha says the Human Rights Commission calls upon the government to urgently take steps to protect girls from such abuse and exploitation which deprives them of the opportunity to go to school and have a better a future.