Zambia Legal Information Institute

SAIPAR manages the Zambia Legal Information Institute (ZambiaLII) website. ZambiaLII provides no-cost access to Zambia’s judgments and legislation, aiming to make law more accessible to the public. Specifically, it collects and uploads Laws, Acts, Statutory Instruments, Court Cases, and Law Development Commission Reports. ZambiaLII has received technical support from the African Legal Information Institute (AfricanLII), a free access to law project operating in South Africa. The AfricanLII and SAFLII websites serve as platforms for engagement with African national and regional law.

In 2012, the ZamLII website was established (www.zambialii.org) and is managed jointly by AfricanLII and SAIPAR.

Background

The Zambia Legal Information Institute (ZamLII) was originally set up at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Law School in 1996 by Prof. Peter Martin. In 2012, SAIPAR initiated the revival of ZamLII, with technical support from AfricanLII.

The free access to digital legal resources movement started at Cornell University, U.S., in 1992, pioneered by the Legal Information Institute (LII). The function of LII is to provide free online access to legal information, including case law, legislation, treaties, law reform proposals, and legal scholarship. Founders Prof. Peter Martin and Prof. Thomas Bruce helped establish a global movement.

Global Legal Information Declaration (2002, Montreal)

• Public legal information from all countries and international institutions is part of the common heritage of humanity. Maximizing access to this information promotes justice and the rule of law.
• Public legal information is digital common property and should be accessible to all on a non-profit basis and free of charge.
• Organizations such as legal information institutes have the right to publish public legal information. Government bodies should provide access to this information to facilitate publication by independent platforms.