WIDNet

Justice for Widows and Orphans Project

The Project

The Justice for Widows and Orphans Project (JWOP) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) established to sensitise widows and orphans on their basic human rights, advocate for legal reform and protect, promote and safeguard the rights of the widows and orphans in Zambia. The Project started operating in March 2001, bringing together seven non-governmental organizations and government departments, which formed a network..

The network member organizations are: Women and Law in Southern Africa Education Trust (WLSA), National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW), Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA), Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP), , Social Welfare and Police Victim Support Unit (VSU).

Since 2001 the Project has been running two Support Groups in Kafue and Monze; and recently formed new groups in Kabwe (in Makululu and Kawama) and Chingola. The next support groups to be formed will be in Katuba, Chibombo district.

Our Vision:

Justice and Human rights for all people in Zambia, especially widows and orphans.

Our Mission Statement:

Strive to advocate, promote, protect and safeguard the rights of all citizens, especially widows and orphans in Zambia.

Our Objective

Our development objective is to improve awareness about the constitutional and legal provisions concerning the status of Widows and Orphans in Zambia. Among those to be targeted in this awareness campaign are the general citizenry, community leaders [chiefs and headpersons) and government officials as well as functionaries responsible for enacting and enforcing laws. This will be pursued through the following activities:

Advocating for laws and policies that promote Justice for Widows and Orphans; Formation of Widows and Orphans’ support groups;
Training of the target groups in the Laws of Succession;
General sensitisation programmes on television and radio;
Workshops at community and national levels; and
Documenting of case studies and establishing a Resource Base;
Addressing the consequences of HIV/AIDS through counselling , survival skills training and treatment

Recognition

JWOP recognises that there are many efforts being made by different organisations in the area of Widows and Orphans, and that, with better coordination, greater synergy can be achieved to maximise benefits and use of available resources.

The Target Group and Beneficiaries

After almost 13 years after the enactment of the Law of Succession, there is still a general lack of knowledge on the provisions of this Law, as far as the rights of the Widows and Orphans are concerned; the plight of these people has not improved in any way.

Funding

The Project, which is in its second phase, is funded by the Embassy of Finland.

Why the Project?

Previous studies show that in the past Widows and Orphans were looked after by extended family members, and integrated into society. However, in recent years society has been going through major transformations as a result of various socialisation processes. These changes have affected the livelihoods, and status in society, of Widows and Orphans. This group of people has been disadvantaged because of the difficulties they encounter in their quest to enjoy human rights.

HIV/AIDS

The plight of Widows and Orphans has been worsened by the HIV/AIDS scourge that has infected or affected most of the world’s population. Stigmatisation that results from HIV/AIDS-related deaths, makes integration of surviving Widows and Orphans into the extended family system difficult.

The Zambian Economy

The poor Zambian economic situation has compounded the problems faced by Widow and Orphans. Administrators of deceased persons’ estates would rather enrich themselves by misappropriating and inheriting the property other than attend to the plight of the Widows and Orphans left behind by the deceased person.

Most of the time, efforts for restitution of the property under the law, proves difficult.

The consequences of lack of access to justice are devastating; these include lack of basic needs like shelter, food and education. In totality, this creates lack of confidence for the victims to stand up and fight for their rights in society, hence the urgent need to empower Widows and Orphans.

JWOP in the Context of Human Rights Treaties and Conventions

JWOP is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It is on this basis that JWOP strives to advocate, promote, protect, and safeguard the rights of Widows and Orphans in Zambia. Zambia is a signatory to the above instruments and yet the treaties have not been domesticated into National Laws so that Government and other duty bearers can be challenged, based on the principles outlined therein. Part of the role of JWOP is to advocate for constitutional and legal reform, but in the main, to ensure that Government, as the main duty bearer, is responsible for promoting, protecting and safeguarding the rights of all citizens, especially Widows and Orphans in Zambia, in order to enhance justice and sustainable development.

Although there are many concerns and issues that surround the plight of Widows and Orphans in Zambia, JWOP has made some strategic choices around which most of the resources will be spent such as the empowerment of the vulnerable in society, especially the Widows and Orphans. What we stand for, our values around Justice for All, guide our actions and choice of strategy, whom we will relate with and why. The JWOP's reputation is thus a combined product of our values and principles; our past performance and how we ought to be perceived in the context of who we perceive ourselves to be.

Facts to Note About Zambia

Zambia has the highest proportion of orphaned children in the world;
Sixty-seven per cent of children under 18 years are orphans; and
Fifty-six per cent of orphans are stunted because of inadequate nutrition.

How to Contact us

The Justice for Widows and Orphans Project is situated at

House # 6, Nyati Close [off Addis Ababa Drive] Rhodes Park.
C/O P.O. Box 34777,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Telephone: [260] 01 256208
E-mail: jwop@zamtel.zm

Our website is www.jwop.org.zm