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A compilation of extracts featuring child-rights issues from the reports submitted to the second Universal Periodic Review. There are extracts from the 'National Report', the 'Compilation of UN Information' and the 'Summary of Stakeholder's Information'. Also included is the final report and the list of accepted and rejected recommendations.
Tanzania - Twenty Fifth Session - 2016
9 May 2016 - 9:00 - 12:30
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Accepted and Rejected Recommendations
National Report
II. Developments since the previous review
Legislation
8. The State has also enacted Rules to operationalise legislation for the promotion and protection of human rights including: the Basic Rights and Duties Enforcement (Practice and Procedure) Rules, GN 304 of 2014; 17 Regulations of the Law of the Child Act of 2009 and The Law Reform (Fatal Accidents and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Judicial Review Procedure and Fees) Rules; GN. 324 of 2014.
9. In Tanzania Zanzibar, the following legislation have been enacted: the Children’s Act No. 6 of 2011; the Public Service Act No. 2 of 2011; the Establishment of the Chief Government Chemist Laboratory Act No. 10 of 2011; the Zanzibar Food Security and Nutrition Act No. 5 of 2011; the Zanzibar Higher Education Loans Board Act No. 3 of 2011;the Zanzibar Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 1 of 2012; the Public Service (Amendment) Act No. 5 of 2012; the Zanzibar Constituency Development Fund Act No. 4 of 2012; the Public and Environmental Health Act No. 11 of 2012; the Business Entity Registration Act No. 12 of 2012; the Zanzibar Business and Property Registration Agency Act No. 13 of 2012 and the Public and Environmental Health Practitioners Act No. 15 of 2012.
Regional and international instruments
11. The State ratified the African Youth Charter of 2006 in 2012.
The judiciary
14. There has been an increase in the number of registries of the High Court including the labour Division. The Judiciary continues to construct High Courts, District Courts and A/HRC/WG.6/25/TZA/1 4 Primary Courts throughout the country.8 In Tanzania Zanzibar, the Court building is being renovated in Pemba and a Children’s Court is being constructed in Northern Unguja.
C. Promotion and protection of human rights: status
The right to privacy and personal security
17. The Cybercrimes Act of 2015 was enacted to criminalise offences related to computer systems and information communication technologies and for investigation, collection and use of electronic evidence and related matters. The Act also provides the right to privacy and promotes the security of children as it criminalises pornography.
HIV/AIDS
19. The Tanzania Commission for Aids (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2015 established the Aids Trust Fund. It also provides the Commission with the mandate to: advise the Government on new sources of revenue for the purposes of ensuring adequate and sustainable flow of money into the fund as well as to promote prevention of new infections. In Tanzania Zanzibar, the Zanzibar HIV and AIDS Prevention Act was enacted in 2013 for the protection and promotion of rights of persons living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Also, the National Prevention of Mother to Child HIV transmission (PMTCT) programs were established in both Tanzania mainland and Tanzania Zanzibar.
Malaria
20. The State established the 2014-2020 Action Plan to control and prevent malaria by implementing various initiatives to reduce malaria. These include promoting the use of and free distribution of nets to children which has helped save the lives of 60,000 children who otherwise die annually. The number of patients suffering from malaria has reduced from 326 per 1,000 in 2009 to 161 per 1,000 in 2014.
National awareness programs
24. The State continues to conduct public awareness on human rights and the rights of vulnerable groups annually during National celebrations of Human Rights Day; Sixteen days of Activism; The Day of the African Child; African Day of Human Rights, International Day for the Elderly and National Albinism Day.
Strategies
25. The National Child Justice Reform Strategy (2013–2017) was established in Tanzania Mainland and the Child Justice Reform Strategy (2013–2018) in Tanzania Zanzibar.
Human rights reporting
26. The State continues to cooperate with International Human Rights Mechanisms. The Initial to Third Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and the consolidated 3rd, 4th and 5th Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child were considered by various UN Committees. The State’s consolidated the 7th and 8th Report on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women will be considered in February 2016.
Mission visits
27. The State received the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Working Group on Indigenous Populations/ Committee from 21st January to 6th February 2013. The Research and Information Visit Report was launched in November, 2015 and the State is examining the recommendations issued. In June, 2015 the State received the African Union Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
III. Progress made in the follow-up to the previous review
Women’s rights
35. The Proposed Constitution considers women rights and provides women with equal rights as men on inheritance, succession and land issues. The State will embark on amendment of the to laws to enhance equality between men, women and children in succession, inheritance and land issues when the Proposed Constitution is adopted.
Violence against women and children
39. The State continued to implement its National Action Plan for Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women and Children (2001–2015) as follows: A National Multi-Sectoral Committee to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Women and Children and Child protection teams established and the Tanzania Teachers’ Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics of 1963 is under review to include specific measures on promotion of child rights and zero-tolerance for violence against children in schools. A child free help line was launched on 14th June, 201332 and one Stop Centers for child abuse victims were established.33 The State has also developed a roadmap for raising awareness on Violence against Children and Gender Based Violence (2014–2016). The State continues to be part of a Great Lakes Region campaign on Sex and Gender Based Violence “DECLARE ZERO TOLERANCE NOW” (SGBV) launched in 2012.
40. In Tanzania Zanzibar, Gender based violence (GBV) committees have been established at Village, Ward, District and National level with guidelines for prevention of GBV and there is a National GBV Register Board that records cases of violence against women and children. A call help line was established in 2015 with number 116 to report A/HRC/WG.6/25/TZA/1 8 and receive assistance from incidences of violence and One Stop Centers have been established. Currently, VAC cases are highly reported due to availability of such services and a shelter house has been designated to accommodate survivors of GBV. Also, 417 Gender and Children Desks are in place in major Police Stations around the country which have developed and harmonized Standard Operating procedures(SOP). To that effect, 1,196 Police Officers have been trained on the SOP and their guidelines.
41. Capacity building for health care managers was held in both parts of the Union. In the Lake Zone where GBV is predominant, training on combating and elimination of GBV was held for 281 law enforcers. In Tanzania Zanzibar, the President launched an awareness raising campaign on eradication of violence against women on the 6th December 2014 and a Plan of Action for the implementation of the campaign for women and children is in place. Similarly, Government officials wear orange T-shirts on the 25th day of every month to raise awareness in the community. This goes hand in hand with Community radio sensitization programs
42. Elements of domestic violence are criminalized under the Penal Code [Cap 16 R.E 2002] and the Zanzibar Penal Act No. 6 of 2004 which criminalize grievous bodily harm and assault being key elements of domestic violence. Further, obstacles to attaining a police report prior to obtaining medical attention have been removed. In Tanzania Zanzibar parenting groups have been established at the grassroots level (Shehia) and are being strengthened to provide care to parents and children. In Tanzania Mainland Section 130 of The Penal Code [Cap 16 RE 2002] criminalizes rape and in Tanzania Zanzibar Section 125(1) of the Penal Act No. 6 of 2004 criminalizes rape.
43. Section 169A of The Penal Code [Cap 16 RE 2002] criminalizes Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of girls under the age of 18 years in Tanzania Mainland. Also, the National Plan of Action for Prevention and Eradication of FGM 2001-2015 is designated for review in 2016 while the National Plan of Action to Accelerate the Eradication of FGM and Other Harmful Traditional Practices and the National Human Rights Action Plan 2013- 2017 are operational. Further, the National Policy on Childhood Care and Development which addressed FGM is at the validation and approval stages.
Persons with disabilities
47. The State continues to implement national legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities and identification of people with disabilities by age, gender and location was done through the National Population and Housing Census of 2012. The State has reviewed the National Health Exemption Guidelines to include elderly people and people living with disabilities and 43 rehabilitation centers have been established. In Tanzania Zanzibar, there is a Disability Fund, a National Council for Persons with Disabilities and a Department of Disability Affairs at the Ministry of State-Office of the 1st Vice President. There are also focal persons for disability affairs at every Ministry and immunization programs are held specifically for children with disabilities.
48. The State has taken several measures to ensure access to education for children with disabilities, including the adoption of the New Education and Training Policy in 201450 and an Inclusive Education Strategy (IE) 2012-2017.51 The State has also established an Educational Support and Resource Centre (ESRAC) in Dar es Salaam and five (5) Districts Councils have identified spaces to establish ESRAC’s for the purpose of detection and identification of children with special needs. Guidelines on Early Identification and Interventions for Children with Special Needs were developed in 2013. In Tanzania Zanzibar, the Persons with Disabilities (Rights and Privileges) Act No. 9 of 2006 continues to be implemented as an inclusive education system has been developed where every District has at least one inclusion education program in line with various policy to ensure children with disabilities access education.
Persons with Albinism (PWA’s)
50. Standby committees have been established at the Ministerial level such as the Ministry of Home Affairs to look into the protection of persons with albinism. Similarly, Permanent Child Protection Committees have been established at the Ministerial level to provide protection at the house hold level. Further, the NHRAP addresses issues of the rights of PWAs and the State voted in favor of the UN Resolution to hold Persons with Albinism Day annually to raise awareness on non-discrimination and their protection. The State also established temporary protection centers for children with albinism in 3 Regions.
Children’s rights
59. There is a specific provision on children’s rights (Article 53) in the Proposed Constitution to guarantee the rights of children. The State has also continued to implement and respect the Law of the Child Act by developing several sets of Regulations, which cover various areas of child protection provided for in the Act. Other efforts include implementation of the under five and the 6 - 18 birth registrations initiative where free birth certificates are given in pilot areas.
60. The State has developed Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)s on how to handle children’s cases at the Gender and Children Desks and developed training manuals on cases involving children in police stations and in Courts. Further, 162 State Attorneys were trained on the law of the Child and how to prosecute children’s case. In both Tanzania Mainland and Tanzania Zanzibar Rules have been adopted to, inter alia, regulate the administration of juvenile justice. Rules for the Zanzibar Children’s Court are at final stage of adoption.
61. The Law of the Child (Child Employment) Regulations GN 196 of 2012 prohibits employment of a child under the age of fourteen years and the State continued to implement the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2009–2015). Awareness raising has reached 35 Districts where in each District averages of 25 participants attended and were made aware of child labour issues and their roles in National Action Plan. Further, an objective in the NHRAP is to implement effective sanctions to address issues of child labour.
62. The State held training sessions on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the context of the “National Plan of Action for Elimination of Child Labour 2009-2015” to District Social Welfare Officers, Police Officers, District Community Development Officers, District Labour Officers, District Medical Officers, Judicial Officials and representatives of various CSOs. The State in collaboration with the ILO and the Government of Brazil has trained 35 workers in CSOs and 190 workers in Local Authorities on child labour issues.
63. The State established the Child Labor Monitoring System (CLMS) which has contributed to withdrawing children from child labor through the ILO Red Card Anti-child labor campaign. The CLMS is comprised of Child Labour Elimination Committees at the National, District and Village level. The State is also undertaking to ensure that extractive industries end child labour through projects supported by PROSPER, Plan International and WEKEZA. The State has collaborated with Small–Scale Miners Associations and raised awareness on effects of child labour and the legal prohibitions. This campaign led some villages in the Geita Region to adopt By-Laws, which prohibit child employment in mines and agricultural activities.
64. Tanzania Zanzibar, has also continued to effectively implement the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2009–2015). A Multi-sectoral Technical Working Group for Child Labour and a Child Labour Steering Committee have been A/HRC/WG.6/25/TZA/1 12 established and strengthened to support the child labour issues. Zanzibar also developed and implemented Guidelines with the same objective and achieved returning a total number of 5,067 children at school and Madrasa through the Fighting Child Labour Project.
65. Further, Ministerial collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry for Trade, Tourism and Market, have been regulating business enterprises, including regulations issued by Zanzibar Investment and Promotion Authority (ZIPA) to ensure investors abide by investment regulations and that labour inspections are conducted daily to assess whether children rights are violated. Similarly, the Child Labour Programme 2012-14, which aimed at removing 5,000 children from child labour resulted in more than 3,620 children removed from child labour. International/transnational crimes against children
International/transnational crimes against children
66. Section 83 of the Law of the Child Act No. 21/2009 and section 13 of the Cyber Crimes Act No.14 (2015) prohibit access to child pornography. The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, Cap 254 provides for mutual assistance in criminal matters between Tanzania and foreign countries; to facilitate the provision and obtaining of such assistance; and to provide for related matters. The Extradition Act, Cap 368 provides for the extradition procedure of criminals and related matters.
67. The Anti-Traficking in Persons Task force trained Local Government Authorities on prevention of child trafficking who subsequently developed by-laws in their respective villages to prevent child trafficking. The Task Force also developed awareness raising materials on prevention of child trafficking and human trafficking in general. Under the period of review 466 professionals working with children were trained on child protection in the course of implementing the child protection system strengthening programme. Street children
Street children
68. The State developed the National Coasted Plan of Action for Most Vulnerable Children II 2013–2017 (NCPA II) launched in February, 2013.84 It defines children living and working in the streets as among the most vulnerable children category in Tanzania and the target group of NCPA II. Child Protection System Guidelines were created to facilitate the NCPA II and Child Protection systems have been scaled up to 17 District Councils of Tanzania mainland.
69. The State has developed a Community Based Strategic Plan of 2013 to address children living and working in the streets. It is the plan through which the State has established a joint emergency, short-term and long-term care and protection mechanism street children and other vulnerable children. An output is a joint project between the State and three NGOs (KIWOHEDE, Dogodogo and MAKINI) which responds to the urgent need of the situation of children in the streets of Dar es Salaam. Also, a Rapid Assessment Survey Report for Street Children was launched in 2012 with Dar es Salaam region as a pilot area.
Education
70. Education remains a top priority for the Government. The Tanzania Education Authority Act, Cap 412 was amended to enable the Education Fund to increase its sources of income and make the Fund sustainable. A new Education and Training Policy was created in 2014 and the Teachers Education Board Bill and the Primary and Secondary Education Curriculum and Control Authority Bill are at various stages of preparation. Further, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania directed that from January 2016, primary and secondary education will be free.
71. Education took up 24% of the National Budget in 2015/201688 and is a priority as reflected in various development agendas such as the 2025 Development Vision, MKUKUTA II and MKUZA II bolstered by the Big Results Now (BRN) initiative. The BRN is its own development outlook with education as a key priority. It began in the 2013/2014 financial year and has had the following outcomes: 56 schools of the intended 264 were constructed in the first phase of the initiative. Generally, school enrollment continues to increase and the State continues to build capacity of teachers.
72. In Tanzania Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Education Policy of 2006 was translated into Swahili and total of 500 copies supplied to both private and public schools. Further, the primary school curriculum has been reviewed to incorporate emerging and global issues. As part of efforts to reduce overcrowding in classrooms and in order to achieve the objectives set by Zanzibar Education Development Plan (ZEDP), there has been rehabilitation and construction of classrooms and schools to reduce pupil-classroom ratio.
73. The number of trained teachers for basic education increased steadily from 4,395 in 2001 to 9,503 in 2013 and the number of untrained teachers has been decreasing steadily from 1,279 in 2001 to 391 in 2013. Primary school enrollment continues to increase from 252,938 students in 2013/2014 to 262,212 students in 2014/15.
Health
74. The State continues to implement Section 19 of the Public Health Act. No. 1 of 2009 which obligates every pregnant woman to immunize against tetanus and any other infectious diseases. The Act also requires every parent or guardian to ensure that her/his child born in Tanzania Mainland is immunized.
76. In Tanzania Zanzibar, post-natal care guidelines were produced in 2013 and Guidelines on sexual reproductive health in 2014. Further, Kangaroo Mother Care Units have been established to care for premature babies and the immunization program of children under the age of 5 years has been extended.
Assistance from the international community
79. The State received financial and technical assistance from the international community in the following programs and initiatives: the NHRAP; maternal and child mortality reduction projects; increasing access to education, reporting to human rights mechanisms and the UPR Report.
Key national priorities and commitments
3. Free basic education for all from nursery school level to secondary school. The Government has abolished school fees in all Government schools and is in the process of regulating school fees in the private sector.
Compilation of UN information
I. Background and framework
A. Scope of international obligations
1. International human rights treaties
1. In 2015, the Committee of the Rights of the Child encouraged the United Republic of Tanzania to ratify OP-CRC-IC, the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, the Arms Trade Treaty and the International Labour Organization Domestic Workers Convention No. 189 (2011).
B. Constitutional and legislative framework
6. The Committee on the Rights of the Child noted with concern that the regulations for the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (2008) had not been published in the Official Gazette and recommended expediting their publication.
7. UNCT expressed concern about the Law of Marriage Act of 1971, which set the minimum marital age at 15 years for girls and 18 years for boys, and about the Local Customary Law (Declaration) Order of 1963, which discriminated against women by allowing male partners to control the political and economic well-being of the family at the household level.
C. Institutional and human rights infrastructure and policy measures
Status of national human rights institutions
9. The Committee on the Rights of the Child noted with appreciation the continuing work of the Special Desk for Children’s Affairs within CHRAGG and reiterated its previous recommendation to the United Republic of Tanzania on ensuring human and financial resources for the effective functioning of the Special Desk
12. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern that the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration was not adequately applied. It recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania strengthen its efforts to ensure that this right is appropriately integrated and consistently applied in all legislative, administrative and judicial proceedings and decisions, as well as in all policies, programmes and projects.
II. Cooperation with human rights mechanisms
C. Cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
13. The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania seek technical cooperation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It urged the country to make use of the technical assistance tools developed by the Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice and its members, including OHCHR.
16. The Committee on the Rights of the Child reiterated its concern that discrimination against certain groups of children still existed, in law and in practice, particularly against pregnant teenage girls and teenage mothers, children with albinism, children with disabilities, children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and children living on the streets.
18. UNCT called for the allocation of sufficient resources to ensure free birth registration and certification. The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania equip decentralized government authorities and health facilities to register births and issue birth certificates, provide birth registration and issue birth certificates free of charge for children under 5 years of age, strengthen and expand mobile birth registration to reach universal coverage, and increase public awareness of the importance of birth registration.
B. Right to life, liberty and security of person
20. UNCT noted that witchcraft was the main impetus for the killing and mutilation of persons living with albinism, and recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania take immediate steps to challenge beliefs and attitudes in those communities in which children with albinism were at a high risk of attack.
21. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed alarm at the killings of children with albinism, including for ritual purposes, and was concerned that the root causes of the violence were insufficiently addressed, and that prosecution of alleged offenders was hampered by fear and the reported complicity of some State authorities. The Committee urged the United Republic of Tanzania to adopt a comprehensive strategy targeting “witch doctors”, to expedite the investigation and prosecution of all cases involving children with albinism, and to provide victims with rehabilitation and redress.
22. UNCT stated that, in its efforts to address harmful cultural and traditional customs and practices, such as female genital mutilation, polygamy and the bride price, the United Republic of Tanzania had continued to strengthen the implementation of the Zanzibar Penal Act (2004) and the Penal Code (applicable on the mainland), both of which criminalized female genital mutilation. The State had also carried out public awareness-raising campaigns and media programmes in an effort to eliminate female genital mutilation.
23. The Committee on the Rights of the Child urged the United Republic of Tanzania to disseminate the law criminalizing female genital mutilation and to ensure that all such cases are promptly investigated and prosecuted and that victims have access to social and medical services.
24. UNCT stated that sexual, physical and emotional violence against children was a pervasive problem, in both the private and public spheres, including government facilities such as schools and prisons. The national plan of action to prevent and respond to violence against children for 2013-2016 was adopted on the mainland, and the national plan to respond to violence against children for 2011-2015 was adopted in Zanzibar. While some progress had been made in implementing the commitments under those plans, insufficient A/HRC/WG.6/25/TZA/2 8 resources had been allocated. Survivors of sexual abuse and violence struggled to achieve justice and obtain social support. The vast majority of the police, prosecutors and magistrates required training. The lack of capacity often contributed to impunity for perpetrators.
25. UNCT stated that corporal punishment mainly took the form of caning, which was permitted in the home, in school and as a judicial sanction. It was a widely supported measure of discipline, which led the United Republic of Tanzania to reject recommendations from the 2011 review to prohibit all corporal punishment.48 The Committee on the Rights of the Child noted with concern that provisions in the legislation condoned corporal punishment for “justifiable correction” in schools and for parents to discipline their children “provided it does not lead to injury”. The Committee urged the State to repeal or amend all legislation to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights made similar recommendations.
26. The Committee on the Rights of the Child was concerned about the persistence of forced and early marriages of girls and, to a lesser extent boys, sometimes even before they reached puberty. Despite the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (1998) criminalizing all sexual activity with girls below the age of 18, marital rape was not prohibited once the married child reached 15 years of age. The Committee expressed concern about reports of frequent sexual and gender-based violence in Nyarugusu refugee camp, including forced marriage and teenage pregnancy, and the giving away of a child in settlement of a debt.
27. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the physical and sexual violence against children, including the sexual exploitation of girls. It recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania: take measures to ensure that all children at risk of sexual exploitation are provided with assistance and protection; strengthen the promotion of zero tolerance of violence against children in schools; ensure that victims have access to child-protection centres; develop adequate systems of investigation and promptly prosecute alleged perpetrators in all cases of sexual violence and abuse of children; and provide all victims with reintegration and recovery services.
28. The Committee on the Rights of the Child called on the United Republic of Tanzania to research the root causes and extent of commercial sexual exploitation of children, child sex tourism, the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to identify children at risk, assess the extent of the problem and develop targeted policies and programmes.
29. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concern about the high number of children living and working in the street, their exposure to various forms of violence, and their limited access to health services and education. It recommended improving access to health services and education for street children. The Committee on the Rights of the Child made similar recommendations.
30. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the lack of awareness of domestic and cross-border child trafficking for sexual exploitation. It recommended expanding efforts to provide specialized training in combating trafficking in children and strengthening awareness-raising programmes. It also recommended ensuring the protection of, and support services for, children who have been victims of trafficking.
32. UNCT stated that children were routinely held in adult detention centres, even in regions where juvenile detention centres existed. Although those under the age of 18 years were separated at night, they mixed with adult prisoners during the day.
C. Administration of justice, including impunity, and the rule of law.
34. The Committee on the Rights of the Child encouraged the United Republic of Tanzania to increase the number of adequately trained professionals working in the juvenile justice system, designate specialized judges for children and ensure their appropriate education and training, and ensure sufficient specialized juvenile court facilities and procedures, with adequate resources.
35. The same Committee expressed concern about the lack of adequate legal-aid services for children in conflict with the law, and encouraged the provision of qualified and independent legal aid and the expeditious adoption of the Legal Aid Bill.
D. Right to family life
37. The Committee on the Rights of the Child noted with concern the reported increase in the number of children living without parental care. It recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania take measures necessary to protect the rights of children deprived of a family environment and address their needs, and in particular strengthen the support provided to biological families to prevent out-of-home placements.
38. The same Committee noted with concern that a large number of children’s homes operated without registration or adequate inspection and that children continued to live in institutions without any review of the placement, contrary to the 2012 Children’s Homes Regulations.
39. The Committee was also concerned about reports that children with albinism had been placed in boarding schools and shelters for children with special needs and that those shelters, while offering immediate protection, were not temporary as originally intended. The children were separated from their families and segregated from their community. The Committee encouraged the United Republic of Tanzania to review its policy of placing children with albinism in boarding schools and to take all measures necessary to reunite the children with their families, when that is in the best interests of the child.
F. Right to work and to just and favourable conditions of work
46. The same Committee was concerned that child labour was widespread, with many children engaged in activities that were hazardous and dangerous.
G. Right to social security and to an adequate standard of living
49. UNCT stated that food security remained vulnerable to the effects of climate change, notably drought. The problem of malnutrition remained a major issue, with the allocation of adequate resources for nutrition programmes remaining a challenge. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania address chronic food insecurity, chronic malnutrition and the critical nutritional needs of children, in particular in central, south-eastern and north-eastern regions.
51. Recalling the cholera outbreak in 2015, UNCT called for the upgrading of water and sanitation infrastructures and the implementation of social mobilization interventions. The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania improve access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities and ensure their sustainability, availability, sufficiency and affordability to all.
H. Right to health
53. According to information before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, there has been limited progress in reducing the maternal mortality rate. UNCT stated that the major causes of maternal mortality were preventable and attributable to the poor quality of health services, including the unavailability of skilled providers and essential equipment, as well as geographical inaccessibility. It noted the development of a road map for 2016-2020 to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality and to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health, and recommended the allocation of resources to ensure the implementation of the interventions and the monitoring of progress through the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health scorecard.
54. UNCT encouraged greater efforts to address the major causes of under-5 mortality: pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea-related diseases and malnutrition.
55. UNCT stated that there had been an increase in the deaths of newborn children. It called for improved access to newborn care, and improvements in service delivery to the most underserved regions, with a scaling up of the “Reaching every child” approach, which incorporated all child health interventions.
56. UNCT stated that access to and the quality of HIV-related services had been neglected. Children and adolescents continued to be left behind in the national HIV response. Paediatric HIV treatment still lagged behind the provision of treatment for adults. The United Republic of Tanzania must urgently scale up paediatric HIV services, integrated within maternal neonatal child health services, and ensure that health/HIV services meet the special sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial needs of adolescents.
57. UNCT also stated that compared to men, women were more than twice as likely to test positive for HIV. The United Republic of Tanzania should therefore ensure that national strategies address the rights and needs of girls and women in the context of HIV.
58. UNCT stated that the United Republic of Tanzania should require as a best practice that evidence-based comprehensive sex education be taught within the broader primary and secondary school curricula.
60. The Committee on the Rights of the Child was concerned that adolescents who became pregnant as a result of sexual violence had limited options and often resorted to unsafe abortions, resulting in their death. It urged the United Republic of Tanzania to reduce maternal deaths relating to teenage abortions and ensure by law and in practice that the views of the child are always listened to and respected in abortion decisions. UNCT stated that a lack of adequate interpretation of the law and policy relating to safe abortions resulted in poor access to quality abortion care.
61. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the lack of information about modern contraceptives and adolescent-friendly health services, particularly in rural areas. It urged the United Republic of Tanzania to provide accessible, age-appropriate and adolescent-friendly health information and services for boys and girls, including confidential services, relating to sexual and reproductive health, with a focus on preventing pregnancy and making modern contraceptives available.
I. Right to education
62. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the evaluation by the United Republic of Tanzania that formal education systems were unable to accommodate the growing demand, since there were insufficient schools, materials and qualified teachers. The Committee was concerned about the fees and unofficial financial contributions paid by parents and about the difficulties faced by some children in accessing education, including the long walking distances from home to school and the absence of school-meal programmes. It recommended that the State ensure the full enrolment of all children in education.
63. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was concerned about inadequacies in the educational infrastructure, with schools often lacking water and sanitation; shortages of textbooks; and the limited number of qualified teachers. It recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania improve the physical environment of schools, including by ensuring appropriate water and sanitation facilities, particularly in rural areas.
64. UNCT stated that the poor quality of education remained a grave concern. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stated that with the launching of the Education Policy of 2014, basic education would run from Standard 1 to Form 4 and would be free. All schools would use the same textbooks. The Government would collaborate with education stakeholders to modernize curricula at all levels, and provide equipment, materials and tools needed for teaching and facilitating the advancement of science and technology.
65. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concern about the lack of access to education for children with disabilities, children of pastoralist communities and refugee children living in the Mtabila camp. It recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania take steps to guarantee an inclusive education for all children with disabilities, in line with its 2012 Strategic Plan of Inclusive Education, and to ensure that all children of pastoralist communities and refugee children have access to primary education, including through the establishment of mobile and boarding schools.
66. UNCT stated that while the United Republic of Tanzania had developed an inclusive education strategy, immediate efforts should be taken to ensure its implementation and thus increase the inclusion of orphans and other vulnerable children, many of whom were likely to be among the primary-age children missing in schools.
67. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the practice of mandatory pregnancy testing of girls as a pre-requirement for admission to school, as well as the expulsion of pregnant girls from school. UNCT stated that existing protection and special programmes for girls had been inadequate and resulted in many girls being unable to fulfil compulsory educational requirements. While the 2002 regulation still allowed for the expulsion of pregnant girls from school, a draft re-entry programme was under review and pending approval for girls who had dropped out of school owing to pregnancy. UNCT called for particular attention to be paid to the enrolment and retention of boys within nomadic and fishing communities.
68. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was concerned about indirect costs in primary education, such as for textbooks, uniforms and school lunches. The Committee on the Rights of the Child was concerned about the geographical disparities in ensuring high-quality education and about the rates of absenteeism and dropout. It recommended that the United Republic of Tanzania allocate sufficient resources to improve the geographic accessibility of schools and the quality of education and adapt the education system to accommodate children and families whose livelihoods are based on pastoralism, fishing, mining and farming.
J. Persons with disabilities
69. The Committee on the Rights of the Child noted with concern that children with disabilities were subjected to greater abuse, violence, stigma and exclusion, particularly in rural areas. It urged the United Republic of Tanzania to adopt a human rights-based approach to disability, and specifically recommended that the State strengthen the implementation of laws and policies relating to children with disabilities. The Committee also recommended expediting the establishment of the necessary infrastructure in public places to accommodate children with different disabilities and working together with communities to develop a public-awareness strategy to challenge negative social and cultural beliefs and norms regarding children with disabilities.
L. Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
73. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the scarce opportunities for children, particularly long-term refugee children, to access education and develop life skills, and the insufficient assistance for unaccompanied children in the camps.
74. UNHCR stated that the existing policy on the education of refugee children under the 2003 refugee policy required that education offered to refugee children be tailored with a focus on their repatriation and reintegration upon return to their country of origin; therefore, education was based on the curricula used in the countries of origin. UNHCR urged a relaxation of that policy in favour of education for integration, as opposed to a focus on repatriation.
74. UNHCR stated that the existing policy on the education of refugee children under the 2003 refugee policy required that education offered to refugee children be tailored with a focus on their repatriation and reintegration upon return to their country of origin; therefore, education was based on the curricula used in the countries of origin. UNHCR urged a relaxation of that policy in favour of education for integration, as opposed to a focus on repatriation.
M. Right to development, and environmental issues
76. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern that the economic growth resulting from the extractive industries had not led to increased investment in children and that the United Republic of Tanzania continued to over-rely on donor funding. It recommended that the State prioritize and substantially increase the budgetary allocations in the social sectors to ensure implementation of the economic, social and cultural rights of children
Stakeholder information
I. Information provided by the accredited national human rights institution of the State under review in full compliance with the Paris Principles
C. Implementation of international human rights obligations, taking into account applicable international humanitarian law (part to be added only if relevant)
6. CHRAGG stated that conditions such as inadequate food, poor sanitation and health facilities remained in the prisons. Also, 80 percent of the children held in prisons and police cells were not separated from adults. Children had limited access to legal services and there were inadequate social services to handle children in conflict with the law. There was only one juvenile court and no retention home for juvenile offenders in Zanzibar.
9. CHRAGG recommended the allocation of an adequate budget for education, the timely payment of teachers’ salaries and other remuneration and the full implementation of the education policies.
II. Information provided by other stakeholders
C. Implementation of international human rights obligations, taking into account applicable international humanitarian law
1. Equality and non-discrimination.
26. EGPAF stated that traditional practices including “wife inheritance” by a male relative of the deceased husband, female genital mutilation, early or child marriages, and limited property rights for widows, placed women at a higher risk of HIV.
27. EGPAF stated that gender inequality increased the risk of being infected with HIV for women and girls, and interfered with the ability of those living with HIV to seek treatment.
28. EGPAF stated that stigma and discrimination stood in the way of people seeking a diagnosis, disclosing their status to others, and keeping up with treatment for fear of the impact this might have on personal, societal, or professional relations. Children living with HIV suffered from the impact of stigma and discrimination, and poor treatment by teachers and schoolmates often discouraged children from staying in school or taking their medicine. The HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act of 2008 legislates against discrimination. However the Act contributes to the stigmatization of persons living with HIV through the criminalization of the transmission of the HIV, and encourages persons living with HIV to hide their status, or to refrain from being tested, for fear of the legal ramifications of unintentional transmission.
2 Right to life, liberty and security of the person
35. GIEACPC stated that at the 2011 review, Tanzania rejected recommendations to prohibit corporal punishment. Corporal punishment of children in mainland Tanzania is lawful in all settings – the home, alternative care settings, day care, schools, penal institutions, and as a sentence for crime. In Zanzibar, corporal punishment is prohibited as a sentence for crime and in residential institutions, approved schools and remand homes, but it is lawful in other settings.
36. JS3 stated that there was evidence of teachers adopting controversial approaches to education and behaviour management including the use of offensive language, verbal abuse and neglect
37. JS3 stated that sexual abuse of children represented a growing phenomenon in Tanzania. In most cases, the abuse was perpetrated by members of the family and generally not reported. There were also cases of child sexual abuse of ‘house girls’ by people for whom they worked. Female pupils have been exposed to sexual violence by their teachers.
38. HRW stated that laws did not adequately protect women and girls against violence, including child marriage. Laws failed to consistently define a child, to require full and free consent to marriage, and to criminalize marital rape.
39. HRW stated that victims of child marriage were often reluctant to seek help from the authorities, as they lacked confidence in the justice system. Victims were often subjected to threats of retaliation from the perpetrator and his family, and to community pressure to solve conflicts internally. Those who did seek justice experienced barriers in accessing the formal justice system and pressure to have matters adjudicated through customary processes. These problems were perpetuated by discriminatory customary and Islamic laws and practices on marriage, lack of shelters for survivors of gender-based violence, and poor birth and marriage registration.
40. CRR stated that at the 2011 review, Tanzania accepted recommendations to address the high level of violence against and girls. However, Tanzania was still failing to effectively implement child protection laws, policies, and action plans throughout the country.
41. CRR stated that early marriage was widespread. The prevalence of early marriage was in part due to the Marriage Act of 1971 which set a disparate minimum age of marriage for males and females, 18 and 15 years, respectively. Even though the law required girls who marry before the age of 18 years to obtain permission from their parents, this provision failed to protect the vast majority of girls, who were compelled to marry by their parents. Furthermore, the law allows marriage as early as 14 years of age with court approval. Some customary and religious laws also allow the marriage of girls who have reached puberty, which can be before the age of 14. EGPAF stated that early and forced marriage was a HIV risk factor for girls.
44. JS3 recalled that in the 2011 review, Tanzania supported several recommendations to take action against child labour. The measures adopted were unsatisfactorily implemented. JS3 stated that it was particularly concerned by the increasing phenomenon of “house girls” where poor families make their daughters work as housekeepers for wealthy families. These girls, many of whom were minors, were often beaten and enslaved.
45. JS3 stated that there were also reported cases of children, mainly street boys and house girls, being exposed to sexual violence for commercial purposes.
3. Administration of justice, including impunity (part to be added only if relevant), and the rule of law
49. TAWIA stated that widows faced challenges where their deceased husbands had not executed a will. It called for the establishment of special units within the court system to consider inheritance cases and other matters relating to the rights of widows and their children.
50. JS11 stated that the criminal justice system was weak which contributed to impunity. It also stated that cases involving children were not expediently handled because there was only one juvenile court. It recommended an increase in resources for the juvenile justice sector.
51. ADF International stated that in 2015, Tanzania championed a bill that would make provision for Islamic (Kadhi) courts in the legal system. The courts will only have jurisdiction over Muslims in family matters. Ruling from those courts will not be appealable to the High Court and will be enforceable by government bodies. Muslim women will no longer have the protection of the state in issues of marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance.76 ADF International recommended the removal of this bill
52. JS3 stated that the prosecution of alleged perpetrators of harmful practices against people with albinism was slow and expensive, and victims were often discriminated against throughout process. JS13 stated that Tanzania was unwilling or unable to prosecute alleged offenders of violence against persons with albinism. JS12 recommended apprehension and prosecutions of principle offenders instead of only their agents; nationwide education and awareness campaigns to prevent stigmatization of persons with albinism; and improvement of schools and other education facilities to meet the needs of persons with albinism
6. Right to work and to just and favourable conditions of work
64. HRW stated that despite Tanzania expressing its support for recommendations to fully apply the Law of the Child Act and to address child labour as a matter of urgency at the 2011 review, 97 child labour laws remained unenforced. The National Action Plan on Elimination of Child Labour that had been launched in 2009 was not implemented, and labour inspectors rarely inspect small-scale mines for child labour. HRW stated that children as young as 8 years of age risked their lives working in small mines. Child mines have suffered injuries from pit collapses or accidents with tools. They also face long-term health problems such as respiratory disease and musculoskeletal problems from carrying heavy weights.
65. HRW stated that girls on and around mining sites, particularly those working in small restaurants, are sometimes sexually harassed, pressured into having sex, and commercially sexually exploited.
8. Rights to health
78. EGPAF stated that access to age-appropriate information about HIV and sexual and reproductive health services was not sufficiently available, partly due to cultural sensitivities about those issues and to the low secondary school attendance level where such education may be provided to adolescents. HIV-positive women desiring to limit or space the birth of their children were unable to access family planning services. Negative attitudes of health workers prevented women from accessing pre-natal and ante-natal care. There were difficulties testing HIV-exposed infants, especially over the long breastfeeding period.
9. Right to education
80. JS10 stated that the disbursement of the capitation grants, which had been introduced to finance the purchase of textbooks and other learning materials, repairs and maintenance of schools, schools’ administrative costs and examinations expenses, were limited.It stated that there has been deterioration in the quality of education because of challenges which included overcrowding in classroom, shortage of teaching and learning materials and a shortage of teachers.
81. While commending Tanzania for increasing access to primary school education, JS3 stated that the increase in school enrolment had not been complemented by a proportional increase in qualified teachers and classroom resources. There were 140 to 150 children per class, with children sitting on the floor. In spite of the elimination of public primary school fees and the subsidized secondary school fees, parents continued to experience financial pressures from additional fees for school electricity, stationary, exercise books and uniforms. Those expenses significantly restricted access to education, especially for those living in poverty.
82. JS3 stated that many teachers lacked the required qualifications. Also, due to the lack of pedagogical training and knowledge, teachers often ridiculed children with learning difficulties instead of offering them support. Teacher training should include the study of psychology, pedagogy and counselling
83. JS10 stated that children with disabilities faced challenges in their learning due to a lack of infrastructures and facilities and an acute shortage of learning materials and teachers.JS3 stated that despite national disability legislation introducing an inclusive approach to education, this methodology was yet to be implemented, thus many children with disabilities were unable to participate in common classes.
84. CRR stated that girls were subjected to mandatory pregnancy testing in schools. A positive pregnancy test usually resulted in the girls being expelled or they simply stop attending school to avoid the stigma or formal expulsion. A 2014 Education and Training Policy which allowed for the re-enrolment of expelled girls, failed to address the forced pregnancy testing and their expulsion.
85. LGBT Voice stated that pupils were expelled from secondary schools solely on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
86. HRW stated that the right to education is being affected by child labour and child marriage. It stated that girls who are married as children are usually unable to continue with their education.
87. JS10 called for the incorporation of human rights education in the primary and secondary school curricular; as well as a compulsory course on human rights in colleges and universities.
10. Persons with disabilities
88. JS3 stated that children with disabilities experienced discrimination with some families hiding those children at home.
Accepted and rejected recommendations
The following recommendations enjoy the support of the United Republic of Tanzania:
134.2 Consider ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention against Torture and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (Philippines);
134.14 Combat the phenomenon of early and forced marriage by amending the relevant legislation accordingly (Cyprus);
134.36 Continue to promote the rights of women and girls, the elderly and children (Pakistan);
134.38 Further consolidate their successful programmes and policies, mainly in the field of economic, social and cultural rights, with emphasis on its sounded educational policy for all (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela);
134.43 Continue improving security of citizens and enhancing protection of particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children as well as promoting equality and countering discrimination with a focus on racial or religious discrimination and that of persons with albinism (Ukraine);
134.44 Expedite action taken to modify legislation to promote equality between men, women and children in matters of inheritance and succession (Madagascar);
134.45 Continue to exert concrete efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and children (Republic of Korea);
134.48 Enforce fully existing laws prohibiting violence against women and girls, including rape, female genital mutilation, domestic violence and violence against persons believed to be practicing witchcraft (Canada);
134.49 Continue its efforts in addressing the harmful practice of female genital mutilation and ensure that all such cases are promptly investigated and prosecuted and that victims have access to social and medical services (Cyprus);
134.50 Step up efforts to end violence against women and children, and eliminate harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and the killing of women accused of witchcraft (Norway);
134.51 Harmonize national policies with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, principally with regard to the elimination of female genital mutilation (Costa Rica);
134.52 Further continue fighting harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and witchcraft-associated killings (Ethiopia);
134.53 Adopt more specific measures to prevent the practice of female genital mutilation (Spain); 134.54 Take steps with regard to children, particularly with regard to sexual exploitation and all forms of discrimination, including children with albinism (Costa Rica);
134.55 Improve the effectiveness of measures to protect vulnerable children against sexual abuse and protect children with albinism (Cabo Verde);
134.57 Continue to implement strategies to combat child sexual exploitation, including trafficking of children, ensure accountability for the exploitation of children and provide adequate resources for the shelter and rehabilitation of child victims (Malaysia);
134.58 Take measures to accelerate the adoption of a national plan of action to combat trafficking in persons, particularly women and children, in order to prevent this crime, rehabilitate victims and prosecute perpetrators (Mexico);
134.59 Intensify efforts to prevent and investigate cases of sexual abuse of children, particularly those living on the street, so as to punish the perpetrators, and provide assistance and protection to victims (Mexico);
134.60 Take the necessary steps to ensure that all children exposed to sexual exploitation receive protection and assistance (Turkey);
134.61 Strengthen efforts to end child, early and forced marriages, especially among girls (Maldives);
134.62 Accelerate moves to end child and forced marriage, revise the 1971 Marriage Law Act, tighten legislation and enforcement to protect against female genital mutilation and, in the process, collaborate with civil society organizations at the community level (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland);
134.63 Adopt necessary measures to end the practice of forced and early marriage (Argentina); 134.64 Make every effort to further strengthen the capacity of law enforcement authorities to combat violence against women and children and to enhance the provision of support by relevant government institutions for victims (Singapore);
134.65 Strengthen the Child Labour Monitoring System to ensure that children are withdrawn from the labour market in line with the ILO campaign (South Africa);
134.66 Implement fully the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (Belgium);
134.67 Take all measures in order to ensure the enforcement of the existing labour laws and regulations prohibiting all employment of children under 14 years as well as the employment of children under 18 years in mines, factories and plantations (Belgium);
134.68 Step up efforts concerning the eradication of child labour, especially by means of targeted programs, such as income transfer conditional on school attendance (Brazil);
134.69 Pursue efforts undertaken in the fight against all forms of violence and discrimination against women, especially female genital mutilation (France);
134.70 Enforce laws criminalising gender-based violence and female genital mutilation (Australia);
134.71 Increase its efforts in the field of violence and domestic violence against women and children aiming for an eradication of both (Sweden);
134.75 Ensure the effectiveness of temporary protection centres for children with albinism throughout the country (Gabon);
134.76 Intensify education and awareness-raising campaigns to prevent stigmatization and discrimination of people living with albinism (Germany);
134.79 Take immediate steps to change attitudes towards children with albinism and ensure protection of their human rights (Maldives);
134.85 Adopt immediate measures to put an end to the belief that witchcraft is connected to albinism, with a view to ending the killing or maiming of children born with this condition (Uruguay);
134.87 Step up efforts to combat killings of people with albinism, particularly children, including through strengthening laws and awareness raising campaigns on rights of people with albinism (Botswana);
134.93 Adopt measures that are more adapted to children in the judicial system (Algeria);
134.94 Enforce the implementation of the National Prison Policy at all levels and work towards establishing more juvenile courts and juvenile retention homes, especially on Zanzibar (Austria);
134.103 Facilitate access to education and land rights, in particular for women and people in rural areas (Haiti);
134.106 Take the measures necessary to protect the rights of children deprived of a family environment and strengthen support to biological families to prevent out-of-home placements (Bangladesh);
134.107 Accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal, newborn and child mortality in the country (South Africa);
134.108 Implement effective measures to prevent and reduce infant and neonatal mortality in the context of the 2016-2020 road map (Angola);
134.109 Apply, in conformity with the policy of education and training adopted in 2014, legal and administrative measures in favour of the “education for all system” (Equatorial Guinea);
134.110 Maintain, and if possible increase, the levels of investment in education for all (Portugal);
134.111 Continue its efforts to improve the physical environment of schools, including by ensuring appropriate water and sanitation facilities, and to ensure the full enrollment of all children in education (State of Palestine);
134.112 Continue to implement the Education Strategy of 2012-2017 (Sudan); 134.113 Step up efforts to implement the strategy to ensure that education is provided to all segments of the population (Tajikistan);
134.113 Step up efforts to implement the strategy to ensure that education is provided to all segments of the population (Tajikistan);
134.114 Improve children’s access to education (Algeria);
134.115 Allocates sufficient resources to improve the geographic accessibility of schools (Bangladesh);
134.116 Continue its development of education to achieve a higher primary school enrolment (China);
134.117 Take robust measures to promote general quality education and to effectively safeguard the rights of women and girls (China);
134.118 Improve access to education for children with disabilities (Congo);
134.120 Continue to prioritize the implementation of national legislation and policies to ensure that children with disabilities have access to education and that the education system is responsive to the needs of children with disabilities (Singapore);
136.14 Provide birth registration and issue birth certificates free of charge for all children under 5 years of age in order to reach universal coverage and increase public awareness of the importance of birth registration (Poland);
136.15 Accelerate efforts regarding birth registration, while ensuring the free issuance of birth certificates to all children (Turkey);
The recommendations below did not enjoy the support of the United Republic of Tanzania
136.10 Set the minimum age for marriage and voting to 18 years for both genders without preference (Haiti);
136.11 Review legislation with the view of establishing a minimum marriage age at 18 years for both boys and girls, as set out under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Panama);
136.12 Amend the Law of Marriage Act of 1971 and increase the minimum marital age for girls, as well as prevent child, early and forced marriage (Poland);
136.13 Consider adapting the Marriage Act of 1971 and set a minimum marriage age at 18 years for boys and girls according to international standards (Austria);
136.16 Raise the age of marriage for girls to 18 (Sierra Leone);
136.17 Raise the minimum age for marriage to comply with international child rights standards to prevent child, early and forced marriage (Australia);
136.18 Set the minimum age of marriage at 18 for men and women alike and develop a national action plan to prevent and address the consequences of child marriage (Slovenia);
136.19 Prevent child marriage by increasing the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls so as to have the same age restriction for both genders (Botswana);
136.20 Prevent and bring to justice those responsible for the practice of child early and forced marriage by amending the 1971 Law of Marriage Act to set the minimum age of marriage at 18 for both boys and girls without exception and make it consistent with the 2009 Law of the Child Act, which defines a child as anyone under 18 (Canada);
137.36 Expedite the adoption and implementation of laws to counter all forms of violence against women and girls, including marital rape and female genital mutilation (Denmark);
137.41 Enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law designed to prevent, combat and punish all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic and sexual violence, and discriminatory infringements of the right to education (Germany);