WOMEN AND LAW IN SOUTHERN AFRICA RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST (WLSA) ZAMBIA

Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) is a regional network operating in seven countries of southern Africa, namely Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The network strives to work towards improving the socio-economic, political and legal advancement of women through research and implementation of specific projects. WLSA Zambia was established in 1989 by a group of academics, gender activists, and researchers in response to the many socio-legal challenges that women were facing in the region. WLSA Zambia was first registered under the Registrar of Societies Act, Chapter 119 of the laws of Zambia, on 30 June 2004; following a change in legislation in 2009, the organization was registered under the NonGovernmental Organisation Act No.16 of 2009 under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. WLSA Zambia focuses on, among other issues, social justice, gender equality and equity; and the law, both customary and statutory. In the continued effort to improve the socio-economic, political and legal advancement of women, WLSA works on issues relating to disability, the environment, education and health, poverty reduction through empowerment of women, all anchored on the law and respect for human rights.
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Areas of Operations

Lusaka, Chongwe, Rufunsa, Luangwa, Nyimba, Katete, Petauke, Chadiza, Chipata, Lundazi, Vubwi, Kafue, Chikankata, Mazabuaka, Monze, Choma, Livingstone, Gwembe Valley, Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Ndola, Kitwe, Chingola, Luapula, Nsamfya, Mpika, Kasama, Mumbwa, NKeyema, Kaoma, Mongu, Kalabo, Sesheke, Senaga, Nakonde, Solwezi, Chama

Vision

A Zambia in which women and men, girls and boys have equal conditions, treatment and opportunities for realizing their full potential, human rights and dignity, and for contributing to (and benefitting from) economic, social, cultural and political development.

MISSION STATEMENT

WLSA Zambia works towards the socio-economic, political, and legal advancement of women and children by increasing access to justice, undertaking research and lobbying; and advocating for changes to legislation, policies, and practices that discriminate against women.

CORE VALUES

Equality, Diversity, Dedication, Confidentiality, Transparency, Accountability, Innovation, and Excellence.

OBJECTIVES

The development objective of WLSA-Zambia is to improve the legal status of women in southern Africa. This is done through the following activities:
•   Developing the research skills of women law researchers in the network countries;
•   Conducting research on gender issues in southern Africa, particularly those related to legal rights.
•   Providing information on gender and the law and influencing policy and law reforms in each country;
•   Networking and exchanging information between the seven countries;
•   Conducting training seminars on research and producing materials in the seven countries;
•   Exploring and developing new methodologies and new perspectives for the studies of gender and the law in the seven countries;
•   Cooperating and liaising with other organisations in each country, in the region and internationally which are interested in issues related to women and law.