Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA Network of Legal Aid Providers (TANLAP) is calling on the government to enact an anti-Gender Based Violence (GBV) legislation that will offer more protection for victims and survivors.
The right group believes a comprehensive anti-GBV law would provide a better solution on providing justice to victims and survivors of sexual, child and domestic violence currently reported across the country.
“We have several laws that haven’t provided a better answer to this crisis,” TANLAP Executive Director Christina Kamili said.
“We have in place the marriage act, the child act, land act and several others which also address the problem but we think it’s the right time that the government enacts a specific legislation to handle cases related to GBV,” she said.
Several countries including Zambia and South Africa enacted anti-GBV laws. In Tanzania, however, there have been slow movements.
The Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Special Groups said it was working with stakeholders to end gender based violence in the country.
Giving details on the developments and challenges recorded in the last five years since the government enacted the Legal Aid Act 2017, Kamili said the government’s resolve to recognise work of paralegals has helped the latter to understand the factors associated with GBV in the country.
“We have been able to provide education and legal aid across Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Kagera and Njombe regions and everywhere we go it’s the same story on violence,” she said, outlining that violence starts from inheritance, sexual to land grabbing.
She acknowledged that the network has already developed a draft document that can be adopted by the government.
According to Kamili the document has considered the existing legislations and does infringe existing culture and traditions. It also reflects provisions of the ruling CCM Election Manifesto 2020-2025 section 198 (c), 231 (k) and 240 (m).
Human rights groups suggest that the anti-GBV act would help protect the vulnerable from secondary victimisation, tightening the bail regime, outlawing of sexual grooming and exploitation of persons with mental disabilities and the Sexual Offences Register.
In South Africa for instance, the law makes it a criminal offence not to report any sexual offences against vulnerable persons and it also tightens up of obtaining protection orders and broadening the scope of the conditions under which to apply for a protection order.
In Zambia, the act gives hope to many women and children who have been subjected to GBV without adequate recourse. It offers a comprehensive framework for protection and means of survival for victims and survivors of GBV as well as prosecution of perpetrators.
Meanwhile the TANLAP called on the Office of the President Regional Administration and Local Government to provide space for legal aid providers in districts to help provide legal service to those in need.
The network said the group faces several financial challenges; however, there are several people willing to help the communities battling legal cases but are limited with places to work.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
