The Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC-Z) Chairperson, Dr. Pamela Towela Sambo, has called for stronger protection of Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (ASRHR).

Speaking in Lusaka at a Regional Workshop on Legal Frameworks for ASRHR on 5th November 2025, Dr. Sambo said that ASRHR were often overlooked or violated, particularly for adolescents navigating a transformative stage of life marked by physical, emotional and social change.

She noted that many adolescents, especially in rural areas, continued facing significant barriers, including long distances to health facilities, lack of adolescent-friendly services and deep-rooted cultural and systemic attitudes that perpetuate stigma and gender inequality.

To dismantle these barriers, the HRC-Z Chairperson called for collaborative action.

“Let us ensure that young people access these services in safe and non-judgmental environments, including the promotion of evidence-based sexuality education in schools and communities,” Dr. Sambo said.

She said that upholding ASRHR was essential for adolescents’ current well-being and for shaping a healthier, more equitable future without child marriages, gender-based violence and school dropouts.

Furthermore, Dr Sambo called for the inclusion of adolescents’ voices in discussions about their rights, noting that young advocates were catalysts for change.

The workshop brought together over 30 stakeholders united in addressing barriers that prevent ASRHR.