This chapter examines the legal and institutional framework for promoting gender equity and equality in Zambia, with particular attention to the protection of women, including female journalists, from discrimination in the workplace and society. It traces the historical development of gender equality from early international movements for women’s rights to contemporary legal standards. The study analyzes key international instruments ratified by Zambia, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), International Labour
Organization (ILO) Conventions, the Maputo Protocol, the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It further examines Zambia’s domestic legal framework, including the Constitution of Zambia, the Gender Equity and Equality Act, the Employment Code Act, the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, the National Gender Policy, and the Seventh National Development Plan. The chapter also highlights the role of institutions such as the Ministry of Gender, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group in advancing gender equality. The study finds that although Zambia has established comprehensive legal and policy mechanisms to promote gender equity and protect women’s rights, significant challenges remain due to persistent patriarchal norms, discrimination, and social inequalities. It concludes that effective implementation and enforcement of existing laws and policies are essential for achieving substantive gender equality in Zambia.

Keywords: Gender Equality, Gender Discrimination, Women’s Rights, Zambia.