Summary
Lusaka, Zambia | 16 January 2026
Today, the High Court of Zambia overturned the conviction of Violet Zulu and set her free from a 7-year prison sentence. Violet, a young single mother of two, was sentenced to seven years in prison for procuring her own abortion. This landmark decision corrects a grave miscarriage of justice and marks a significant step forward in the fight for women’s and girls’ rights to access reproductive health services in Zambia.
The Center for Reproductive Rights, together with Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) Zambia, and the law firm of Musa Dudhia and Company Advocates (ALN Zambia), remained relentless in fighting for Violet’s release. In its judgment, the Court found that the decision of the lower court was unlawful and unjust, and that Violet’s rights were violated. The Court accordingly ordered her immediate release. The Court found that, because Violet was unrepresented, the Court had a duty to explain the charge of abortion and the elements of the offence of abortion to ensure that she understood and accepted every element before accepting a plea of guilt. It is on that basis that the Court accordingly ordered that Violet Zulu be set free immediately.
Today’s ruling is a powerful affirmation that women and girls must never be criminalized for seeking healthcare. Violet Zulu’s conviction was the result of poverty, systemic barriers, and the failure of the state to make lawful abortion services accessible. By overturning this conviction, the High Court has made clear that reproductive health decisions belong in the health system, not the criminal justice system.
Martin Onyango, CRR Associate Director, Africa Legal Strategies
Violet’s story
Violet’s story
In January 2024, Violet, a domestic worker in Lusaka, was arrested and detained for 19 days without access to post-abortion care or psychosocial support. She appeared before the Magistrates’ Court without legal representation, pleaded guilty without being informed of lawful defenses available under Zambia’s Termination of Pregnancy Act, and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. Her appeal, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights together with WLSA Zambia, with pro bono representation from Musa Dudhia and Company Advocates (ALN Zambia), challenged multiple procedural and constitutional flaws in the trial process. Today’s decision affirms the importance of fair trial guarantees and the protection of constitutional rights for all.
Violet’s experience is not an isolated incident; it reflects the reality faced by many women and girls across Zambia. When contraception is unaffordable and lawful abortion services are inaccessible due to cost, stigma, and procedural hurdles, women are pushed into unsafe and illegal alternatives. In such circumstances, the criminal justice system punishes women for failures within the health system rather than protecting their rights and dignity.
This judgment is a significant win for justice, for women’s rights, and for the rule of law in Zambia. It sends a strong message that courts must protect, not punish, women who are failed by the health system. Violet’s case shows how legal rights on paper mean little when access is denied in practice.
Sharon Williams, Executive Director, Women and Law in Southern Africa, Zambia
The criminalization and harsh punishment of women like Violet is a human rights failure. This ruling sends a powerful message: women and girls must not be punished for seeking healthcare, including abortion services. It affirms that reproductive healthcare must be accessible, affordable, and free from criminalization, regardless of a woman’s socioeconomic status.
This judgment exposes the direct link between the lack of access to safe abortion services and information, and the criminalization of women who cannot afford care.
Rosemary Kirui, CRR Legal Adviser, Africa
We commend the High Court of Zambia for upholding the Constitution and Zambia’s human rights obligations. We now call on the Government of Zambia to act decisively by:
- Removing legal, financial, and procedural barriers that prevent access to safe and legal abortion services;
- Ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, and the Gender Equity and Equality Act;
- Guaranteeing access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including contraception and post-abortion care, without stigma or discrimination; and
- Taking concrete steps toward decriminalizing abortion, in line with public health evidence and Zambia’s regional and international human rights commitments.
This victory must translate into real change in women’s lives. The Government of Zambia must now ensure that all women and girls can access comprehensive reproductive health services with dignity and without fear.
We remain committed to working alongside the government, civil society, the legal profession, health providers, and communities to ensure that no woman or girl in Zambia is ever again imprisoned for seeking reproductive healthcare.
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