WiLDAF Contributes to Tanzania’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Stakeholder Report

WILDAF participated in contributing ideas and experiences to the drafting of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Stakeholder Report for Tanzania, representing the voices and concerns of women.

Through this engagement, we continue to emphasize the importance of ensuring that women’s rights are protected, promoted, and prioritized in national policies, laws, and their implementation.

The meeting, organized by @humanrightstz in collaboration with @thrdcoalition, brought together civil society organizations and representatives from the Governments of Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to discuss key human rights issues and contribute to strengthening protections across the country.

During the session, Angela Kauleni, Country Director of Save the Children Tanzania, highlighted the importance of ensuring that the UPR process amplifies the voices of children, who make up more than half of Tanzania’s population but often lack formal representation in decision-making.

She acknowledged progress made in advancing children’s rights, including a 26.5% reduction in violence against children, improvements in birth registration, and the 2022 guidelines allowing girls who become pregnant to return to school. However, she also noted ongoing challenges such as shortages of social welfare officers, outdated legal provisions affecting children and girls, limited inclusive education for children with disabilities, and the persistence of child labour in hazardous sectors.

Participants also discussed key issues raised in the draft civil society report, including the need to strengthen civic space, improve access to justice, enhance protection for vulnerable groups, and ensure adequate resources for national human rights programs.

The meeting in Morogoro forms part of Tanzania’s preparations for submitting stakeholder reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).