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Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement on Wednesday in support of a group in Zambia that has called for the African Union to take steps to clean up a mine site that has caused child led-poisoning.
Complainants included the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, Zambian nongovernmental organizations, and affected families. The group filed a complaint to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), calling for accountability and remedies for waste-processing and re-mining activities in a mine in Kabwe.
A 2022 UN report categorized Kabwe, Zambia, as one of the most polluted places on the planet. From 1906 to 1994, the locale was home to Broken Hill, one of the world’s largest lead and zinc mines. While the mine was active, and during the three decades it has since ceased operations, highly toxic lead particles spread, carried by wind and waterways. Chemicals contaminated soil in courtyards, playgrounds and dirt roads, where car traffic constantly kicked more dust into the air.
A judge dismissed a lawsuit against authorities in December 2023. Plaintiffs were given permission to appeal to South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in 2024 and did so in November 2025.
HRW said an estimated 200,000 people in the region may have been exposed to toxic materials, and medical researchers estimate that over 95 percent of children living near the former Kabwe mine have lead in their blood. The statement requested the ACERWC to find officials in violation of obligations under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, stating:
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Complainants included the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, Zambian nongovernmental organizations, and affected families. The group filed a complaint to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), calling for accountability and remedies for waste-processing and re-mining activities in a mine in Kabwe.
A 2022 UN report categorized Kabwe, Zambia, as one of the most polluted places on the planet. From 1906 to 1994, the locale was home to Broken Hill, one of the world’s largest lead and zinc mines. While the mine was active, and during the three decades it has since ceased operations, highly toxic lead particles spread, carried by wind and waterways. Chemicals contaminated soil in courtyards, playgrounds and dirt roads, where car traffic constantly kicked more dust into the air.
A judge dismissed a lawsuit against authorities in December 2023. Plaintiffs were given permission to appeal to South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in 2024 and did so in November 2025.
HRW said an estimated 200,000 people in the region may have been exposed to toxic materials, and medical researchers estimate that over 95 percent of children living near the former Kabwe mine have lead in their blood. The statement requested the ACERWC to find officials in violation of obligations under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, stating:
The post Rights group backs those affected by contaminated Zambia mining site appeared first on JURIST - News.
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Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.