Tanzania Reaffirms Commitment to Advancing Global Gender Equality Agenda.

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the international community to advance the global agenda on gender equality and women’s rights.

Speaking at the 70th International Conference on Women’s Issues and Rights, the Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dorothy Gwajima, who represented Tanzania at the meeting, emphasized that access to justice remains a fundamental pillar for sustainable economic and social development.

Dr. Gwajima noted that the Tanzania Development Vision 2050 identifies gender equality and social inclusion as central pillars of the country’s long-term development agenda. According to her, the vision continues to guide ongoing reforms of laws and policies aimed at strengthening the protection of women’s rights and promoting inclusive development.

She further highlighted that the Government has enacted and implemented several key laws designed to protect the rights of women and girls, including the Land Act, the Legal Aid Act, the Village Land Act, the Law of the Child Act, the Education Act, and the Penal Code. In addition, the country has strengthened its judicial system, successfully reducing the backlog of appeal cases by 50 percent between 2021 and 2024.

“Through legal reforms, Tanzania has addressed discriminatory customs and traditions and amended various laws, including electoral legislation, to criminalize gender-based violence in politics,” Dr. Gwajima said.

The Minister also noted that Tanzania has introduced several national initiatives to enhance access to justice. These include the National Strategy for Women’s Access to Justice, the Second Five-Year Strategy for Children’s Justice, the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children, and the National Land Policy, which safeguards women’s rights to inherit land. She added that the Government continues to intensify efforts to eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage.

To improve the efficiency of legal service delivery, Tanzania has also implemented innovative mechanisms such as the electronic e-Case Management System, Integrated Justice Centres, and One Stop Centres that provide multiple legal and support services under one roof. In 2025, 88 percent of cases handled in these centres were successfully resolved, with women accounting for 61 percent of the beneficiaries of legal aid services.

Dr. Gwajima further stated that through the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, more than 2.1 million women and girls across Tanzania have received legal assistance, legal education, and court representation.

Despite the progress made, Tanzania acknowledged that significant work remains to achieve full gender equality and universal access to justice. The Government therefore called on countries and development partners to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in advancing the global gender equality agenda.

Tanzania reaffirmed its readiness to learn from international best practices and to work collectively with partners worldwide in promoting equality, justice, and inclusive development for all.