TANZANIA
remains committed to address gender-based violence (GBV), through
official legal channels aimed at empowering judges, magistrates and
other judiciary workers in forming a ‘third eye’ in resolving such
cases.
The Minister for Legal and Constitutional
Affairs, Prof John Palamagamba Kabudi made the statement when closing a
Joint Conference on ‘Gender and the Judiciary in Africa,’ organised by
Tanzania’s Judiciary in partnership with with the World Bank.
“I am aware that the meeting has addressed
topics related to the role of the courts in Africa especially in
addressing gender position within the judiciary; women’s access to
justice and GBV and issues of social and economic development,” he said,
adding that all these were important in transforming legal entities in
the country.
The three-day gathering which was held at
the Simba Plenary Hall of the Arusha International Conference Centre
(AICC) was opened last Monday by the Vice- President, Mama Samia Suluhu
Hassan.
Running under the theme; ‘Building an
effective, Accountable and Inclusive Judiciary,’ the meeting brought
together Chief Justices, Judges, Magistrates and concerned stakeholders
to discuss ways in which the judiciary can not only guarantee the
fundamental right of every woman to live free of discrimination and
violence, but also promote women’s pivotal role in social and economic
development.
Speaking earlier, Chief Justice (CJ), Prof
Ibrahim Hamis , pointed out that most Tanzanian women start facing
serious problems once their husbands die, then relatives pounce onto
them targeting to grab property and other forms of inheritance.
“That is when you get to hear about ladies
being accused of ‘killing’ their husbands through ‘witchcraft,’ just
because they want to smear them with bad names and innuendo in attempt
to disqualify the widows from inheriting their husband properties,”
pointed out Prof Hamis.
According to the CJ, there comes a time
when relatives also snatch away children from their mothers, when they
realise that the fathers have bestowed inheritance to their offspring
and that the only way to ensure that the properties fall under their
charge was to grab the youngsters from their mothers.
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