Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs has announced its plan to come up with a major programme to strengthen primary legal services to complement the sixth phase government’s efforts towards promoting rural development, transformation and empowerment.
Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Prof Palamagamba Kabudi announced the plan in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, at the launch of Tanzania Gender Bench Book on Women’s Rights officiated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The book has been prepared by Tanzania Women Judges Association (TAWJA) in collaboration with UN Women and Swedish Embassy.
Prof Kabudi said that, since she was sworn-in as the sixth phase president, Samia’s government has been directing efforts towards rural development, transformation and empowerment.
“All steps you have been taking during this time of your leadership have been focused on the three areas … by doing so you are empowering women and girls,” Prof Kabudi said.
He noted that in order to accomplish the mission, his ministry was preparing the primary legal services plan to allow many people to have access to justice.
“As we have integrated judicial system at this level we want to direct our efforts at village level … we want primary court to work with paralegals who are recognized by the Legal Aid Act,” he said.
Prof Kabudi noted that primary legal services will depend more on paralegals thus the ministry has started a training program at certificate level and it will also introduce diploma programme to paralegals who are expected to work at primary courts.
He futher said that, although there are lawyers but many low income people can’t afford the cost.
Prof Kabudi, however, informed the president that, German government has dished out 3 million Euros for financing access to justice for women and girls.
He said the money will be used for mapping customary law.
After a lot of blending we are now going to identify customary laws which need to be revised to allow recordification of the laws among others matrimonial and patrimonial customary laws.
Prof Kabudi noted that most of judges and magistrates who come across with cases related to matrimonial issues they tend to deliver ruling basing on patrimonial while 20 per cent of Tanzanians follow matrimonial system.
On her part, the UN Women Representative to Tanzania Hodan Addou said that her organization is pleased to have partnered with TAWJA in this important initiative aimed at protecting women’s rights, equal opportunities and participation in the delivery of justice services in Tanzania.
The Gender Bench Book on Women’s Rights marks the beginning of the era in delivering of justice services in Tanzania for all women.
It also resonates with the theme of sustainable development goals which argues government to leave no one behind in the new development agenda.
She said gender based violence remain to be one of the biggest challenge women face today, when compounded with social , cultural challenges that women face such as lower literacy level, poverty access to resources among others.
It is vital that women and girls facing violence and any other violation of their rights have the proper resources and support system deem necessary to advocate for their rights.
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