Today, 9th October 2025, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Zambia (HRC-Z), Dr. Pamela Towela Sambo, participated in a panel discussion at the ongoing African Business and Human Rights Forum 2025, being held at The Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.

In her remarks, Dr. Sambo highlighted the strides the Commission has made to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights. These include the enactment of the Human Rights Commission Act, No. 4 of 2024 which provides a stronger legal framework for enforcement; the deployment of Human Rights Champions in all districts to facilitate the promotion and protection of human rights; information dissemination on human rights through Information, Education and Communications (IEC) materials; and enhanced accessibility of the Commission’s services through its toll-free number 8181 which allows the public to report violations and seek redress without delay.

Addressing challenges in the extractive sector, Dr. Sambo called for awareness-raising and capacity-building among stakeholders, holding violators accountable, and strengthening law enforcement to ensure justice for affected communities.

She also emphasized the importance of community feedback mechanisms as vital tools for enhancing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in addressing human rights concerns.