Assessing People’s Perceptions About Factors Contributing to Children in Conflict with the Law in Mtendere Compound, Lusaka District

Globally, children in conflict with the law remain a major concern within juvenile justice systems, with increasing attention placed on understanding the social, economic, family, and environmental factors that contribute to juvenile offending. International frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) [49], the Beijing Rules (1985), and the Riyadh and Havana Guidelines (1990) emphasize child-friendly justice approaches that prioritise diversion, rehabilitation, and the best interests of the child. Despite these standards, children continue to be exposed to poverty, family breakdown, inadequate parenting, peer pressure, substance abuse, and limited access to education and social services, all of which increase their vulnerability to offending (UNICEF, 2021; UNODC, 2022). In Africa, juvenile offending is similarly linked to structural and social challenges including poverty, unemployment, family instability, weak community cohesion, and substance abuse. Regional frameworks such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990) call for strengthened child protection systems, yet many countries continue to experience high levels of child vulnerability due to urbanization, inadequate welfare services, and exposure to criminal environments (African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 2021). In Zambia, despite the enactment of the Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022, children in conflict with the law remain prevalent. However, limited local evidence exists on how community members perceive the factors contributing to juvenile offending in such contexts. A qualitative case study design was adopted and Purposive sampling was used to select 20 Participants; Data were collected through semi-structured interview guide and analysed thematically using NVivo software. The findings revealed that juvenile offending is perceived as a result of interconnected factors including poverty, poor parenting, family breakdown, peer pressure, substance abuse, weak school systems, and unsafe community environments. Participants further emphasized the need for balanced responses that combine accountability with rehabilitation, counselling, education, and family support. The study concludes that effective prevention of children in conflict with the law requires integrated, multi-sectoral interventions addressing family, school, and community systems simultaneously.