On 9 April 2026, a project close‑out workshop was convened to reflect on the impact of the Hands Off! Project. The event brought together key stakeholders committed to building a safe society and advancing the rights of vulnerable groups, human rights, social justice, and gender equality in Zambia. Senior police officers, religious leaders, media representatives, and members of vulnerable communities were all in attendance. The collective message was clear: “The project has shaped and fostered an inclusive society, one that promotes human rights and gender equality.” Designed to reduce violence against vulnerable groups in Southern Africa, the project approached criminalisation as a public health risk. Stakeholders agreed that stigma, violence, exclusion from health services, heightened HIV vulnerability, and unfair policing have all been visibly reduced. The significance of this impact was underscored by the active participation and collaboration of diverse actors alongside ZANERELA+. In Zambia, where the Penal Code continues to criminalise certain forms of work, the project deliberately pursued a different path. Rather than focusing on legislative reform, it built a coalition of stakeholders to shift practice on the ground. Police units engaged in dialogue instead of defaulting to raids. Clinics adopted outreach protocols that recognised occupational risk rather than passing moral judgment. Religious leaders within ZANERELA+ reaffirmed their commitment to a theological framework that reframed the debate in positive, inclusive terms. These shifts in practice were so tangible that participants unanimously acknowledged the project’s impact and issued a clear call for its extension into additional provinces.