UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 17) The Cybercrimes Act of 2015 was enacted to criminalise offences related to computer systems and information communication technologies and for investigation, collection and use of electronic evidence and related matters. The Act also provides the right to privacy and promotes the security of children as it criminalises pornography.

Para 66) Section 83 of the Law of the Child Act No. 21/2009 and section 13 of the Cyber Crimes Act No.14 (2015) prohibit access to child pornography. The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, Cap 254 provides for mutual assistance in criminal matters between Tanzania and foreign countries; to facilitate the provision and obtaining of such assistance; and to provide for related matters. The Extradition Act, Cap 368 provides for the extradition procedure of criminals and related matters.

Para 67) The Anti-Traficking in Persons Task force trained Local Government Authorities on prevention of child trafficking who subsequently developed by-laws in their respective villages to prevent child trafficking. The Task Force also developed awareness raising materials on prevention of child trafficking and human trafficking in general. Under the period of review 466 professionals working with children were trained on child protection in the course of implementing the child protection system strengthening programme.

UN Compilation:
Para 24) UNCT stated that sexual, physical and emotional violence against children was a pervasive problem, in both the private and public spheres, including government facilities such as schools and prisons. The national plan of action to prevent and respond to violence against children for 2013-2016 was adopted on the mainland, and the national plan to respond to violence against children for 2011-2015 was adopted in Zanzibar. While some progress had been made in implementing the commitments under those plans, insufficient resources had been allocated. Survivors of sexual abuse and violence struggled to achieve justice and obtain social support. The vast majority of the police, prosecutors and magistrates required training. The lack of capacity often contributed to impunity for perpetrators.

National Report:
Para 35) The Proposed Constitution considers women rights and provides women with equal rights as men on inheritance, succession and land issues. The State will embark on amendment of the to laws to enhance equality between men, women and children in succession, inheritance and land issues when the Proposed Constitution is adopted.

Para 36) Currently, the Land Act No. 4 of 1999, the Village Land Act No. 5 of 1999 provide women with the right to own land and participate on equal basis with men, in land decision making bodies. In Tanzania Zanzibar, the Land Tenure Act No. 12 of 1992 provides for similar provisions while the Land Tribunal Act No. 7 of 1994 establishes the Land Tribunal which enforces the provisions of the Land Tenure Act, thereby guaranteeing equality of men and women in land ownership and use. There is also a Registered Land Act No. 10 of 1990 which provides for the appointment of a Land Registrar. It is also worth to state that the current Land Registrar is a woman.

Para 37) Tanzania Mainland is reviewing the National Gender Policy to replace the Gender and Women Development policy 2000 in order to incorporate current emerging issues.

Para 38) In Tanzania Zanzibar, the Women Protection and Development Policy of 2001 is being reviewed with a view of creating the Zanzibar Gender Policy. In order to emancipate women in rural areas, 14 Women Information Windows have been established at the Ward level which provide rural women with information on health, education, legal issues, human rights, entrepreneurship skills, land rights and income generation projects. Further, the Proposed Constitution provides for the per centum of women in Parliament to be at 50%.

Para 46) Statistics for women in decision making positions show an increase in trend. In 2005 there were 62 women Members of Parliament while in 2015 there were 127. In 2015, there were 10 women Ministers, 5 Deputy Ministers, 32 Judges in the High Court, 5 in the Court of Appeal, 53 District Commissioners and 7 women Regional Commissioners. In higher learning institutions the number of female students increased from 10,039 in 2005 to 78,800 in 2014. Further, the State gained a female Vice President for the first time in 2015 and a female Deputy Attorney General. Also, during the 2015 General Elections, there were female presidential candidate among the contestants.

UN Compilation:
Para 3) The United Nations country team (UNCT) stated that the draft constitution, which had been approved on 2 October 2014 but was still awaiting a referendum, did not adequately address the issue of women%u2019s leadership and access to basic services ...

Para 67) ... UNCT stated that existing protection and special programmes for girls had been inadequate and resulted in many girls being unable to fulfil compulsory educational requirements. While the 2002 regulation still allowed for the expulsion of pregnant girls from school, a draft re-entry programme was under review and pending approval for girls who had dropped out of school owing to pregnancy.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 63) JS9 stated that while there has been an increase in the representation of women in parliament, the judiciary, government bodies and in political parties, women remained under represented in local government.

Para 84) CRR stated that girls were subjected to mandatory pregnancy testing in schools. A positive pregnancy test usually resulted in the girls being expelled or they simply stop attending school to avoid the stigma or formal expulsion. A 2014 Education and Training Policy which allowed for the reenrolment of expelled girls, failed to address the forced pregnancy testing and their expulsion

National Report:
Para 74) The State continues to implement Section 19 of the Public Health Act. No. 1 of 2009 which obligates every pregnant woman to immunize against tetanus and any other infectious diseases. The Act also requires every parent or guardian to ensure that her/his child born in Tanzania Mainland is immunized.

Para 75) ... On 15th May 2014, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania inaugurated the Maternal Strategic Plan 2014/2020 aiming at reducing maternal mortality. Other State efforts include building 9,997 health facilities in every Ward and opening 64 cervical cancer diagnosis centres in 16 Regions in Tanzania Mainland and 2 in Tanzania Zanzibar. Equipment was purchased for the centers and 213 health personnel were trained on their use. Awareness raising campaigns have been held to encourage women to deliver in hospitals, as a result the number of women giving birth in hospitals has increased from 56.6% in 2013 to 68.3% in 2014.

Para 76) In Tanzania Zanzibar, post-natal care guidelines were produced in 2013 and Guidelines on sexual reproductive health in 2014. Further, Kangaroo Mother Care Units have been established to care for premature babies and the immunization program of children under the age of 5 years has been extended

UN Compilation:
Para 53) According to information before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, there has been limited progress in reducing the maternal mortality rate. UNCT stated that the major causes of maternal mortality were preventable and attributable to the poor quality of health services, including the unavailability of skilled providers and essential equipment, as well as geographical inaccessibility. It noted the development of a road map for 2016-2020 to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality and to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health ...

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 76) CRR stated that at the 2011 review, Tanzania had supported recommendations to significantly reduce the maternal mortality rate, but remained far from achieving the maternal mortality ratio of 193 deaths per 100 000 live births set by the Millennium Development Goals.