Submitted by crinadmin on
On 4 November, the new Act of the Child 2009 was unanimously passed by the Tanzanian Parliament. A delegation from the Caucus for Children's Rights (CCR), a member for CRIN, was there to witness this important event and to share the delight with other CSO actors who have been lobbying for the Act. Significantly, the Act was passed with almost 80 per cent of the revisions that civil society had requested. Read the Position Paper submitted by the CSO task force for consideration in drafting the Act The bill was tabled by the minister for Community Development, Gender and Children Magareth Sitta, who told the House: "The best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration in all actions whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts or administrative bodies." The act includes the right to name and nationality as well as clauses on parental duties and responsibilites, among others. "A child shall have a right of opinion. No person shall deprive a child capable of forming views the right to express an opinion, to be listened to and to participate in decisions which affect his well-being," reads section 11 of the Act. The Act contains the right to food, shelter, clothing, medical care including immunisation, education and guidance, liberty as well as the right to play and leisure. The CCR had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Parliamentary Committee for Community Development to explore collaboration opportunities to ensure that the law effects real change for children. A statement from CCR said: "The key challenges as we move forward are to ensure that this Act does not remain an empty gesture for children." It said there must be more lobbying for: Further information