Zambia Legal Information Institute

Providing Free Access to Legal Information

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.

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.

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.