Speaking during celebrations to mark the African Women’s Day and launch of the Tanzania Women’s Human Rights report, the Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Justice Dr Harrison Mwakyembe underscored the importance of attaining gender parity in the country.
The celebrations to mark African Women’s Day and the launch of the Women’s Human Rights report was organized by Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) Tanzania.
Dr Mwakyembe said although various international studies have shown that Tanzania has recorded great achievements in efforts towards gender parity, more efforts are still needed to ensure the objective is reached.
“We should not celebrate but put more efforts in achieving gender equality in all institutions including parliament and other institutions,” he explained. He said the government recognizes remaining challenges in various laws including the Marriage Law of 1971 which became the center of discussion following High Court directives to government to amend the law.
“The issue is already under discussion and since 2008 the government had already noted the importance of reviewing and amending the law...” he explained. WiLDAF Tanzania coordinator Ms Judith Odunga said there are still few women in decision making levels in the country. Citing an example Ms Odunga said between 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 only 24 percent and 31 per cent of women were in leadership positions.
“Although involvement of women in politics in 2015 was 30 percent, we still are facing a huge challenge in reaching the targeted 50 gender parity. We have noted a reduction in the number of women in decision making levels in the Fifth Phase Government,” Ms Odunga added.
She said women have equal rights as men to participate and be involved in the administrative duties of any democratic country and that women have proven that they are able to do so.
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