THE state has accepted the endorsement of a total of 131 out of 227 recommendations towards the promotion and protection of human rights in Tanzania.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Prof Sifuni Mchome, said that 94
recommendations have been rejected and two accepted in part. He made the
revelation when addressing the Human Rights Council on the occasion of
the adoption of the second Universal Periodic Review (URP) Report.
The PS said that the government was
prepared to fully implement the recommendations and it has accepted the
recommendations towards translating them into a reality for Tanzanians.
“This we shall endeavour to achieve by
cooperating with the National Human Rights Institutions, Civil Society
Organisations, the Media, Development Partners and other Non-State
Actors,” he said.
The PS said that the recommendations
rejected were due to issues and matters contrary to the constitution,
policies and laws of the land as well as religious and cultural beliefs.
Among them they include, abolition of
the death penalty, same sex relations, a single anti discrimination
legislation on inheritance, succession and land rights issues and
marital rape.
Others are indigenous peoples rights,
having a standing invitation policy for special procedures and to ensure
asylum seekers and refugees have access to work and freedom of
movement.
The State has also rejected
recommendations calling for a single anti-discrimination legislation
which encompasses a range of issues such as inheritance, succession,
land rights and economic empowerment all in one piece of legislation.
Prof Mchome said that the state was
still retaining the death penalty in its statutes for specified offences
and finds no reason to change its position.
On the other hand, the PS said that the
recommendations accepted are aligned with areas identified in the
National Report and in compliance with the Constitution, policies and
laws of the land as they are reflective of on-going initiatives and seek
to enhance the Government’s efforts and commitments towards promotion
and protection of human rights in the country.
The accepted recommendations according
to the state pertain to, international human rights instruments, the
Constitution making process, violence against women and children,
strengthening the National Human Rights Institution, the rights of
persons with disabilities and rights of the elderly.
The accepted items also pertain to free
and fair elections, environmental protection, land rights, access to
water, health and education, freedom of association and expression,
anti-corruption measures and access to justice.
Others are prison conditions, the
Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030, international cooperation,
training on law enforcement officers on human rights,
anti-discrimination, the National Human Rights Action Plan and adherence
of National laws to International Human Rights standards
No comments :
Post a Comment