Tanzania champions gender equality at CSW70
NEW YORK: TANZANIA has reiterated its commitment to advancing gender equality and justice as a cornerstone of social and economic development.
Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima made the remarks at the ongoing 70th Session of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.
Dr Gwajima said that Tanzania Development Vision 2050 places gender equality and social inclusion at the heart of the country’s development agenda, guiding reforms in national policies and laws.
She noted that the government has continued to enact and implement several laws aimed at protecting the rights of women and girls, including the Land Act, the Village Land Act, the Legal Aid Act, the Law of the Child Act, the Education Act and provisions within the Penal Code.
The Minister further noted that reforms in the judicial system have improved access to justice, with Tanzania recording a 50 per cent reduction in the backlog of appeal cases between 2021 and 2024.
“Through legal reforms, Tanzania has addressed discriminatory cultural practices and amended several laws, including electoral laws by criminalising gender-based violence in political processes,” she explained.
Dr Gwajima said the government had introduced national strategies to strengthen the protection of women and children, including the National Strategy for Women’s Access to Justice, the Second Five-Year National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children and the National Land Policy, which guarantees women’s rights to inherit land.
The minister highlighted innovative approaches to improve access to justice and legal services, such as the electronic Case Management System, Integrated Justice Centres, and One Stop Centres for survivors of violence.
In 2025, 88 per cent of cases handled in these centres were successfully resolved, with women accounting for 61 per cent of beneficiaries for receiving legal aid. Through the national Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, more than 2.1 million women and girls across the country have received legal assistance, education, and court representation.
Despite these achievements, Dr Gwajima acknowledged the need for continued efforts to promote gender equality and called for enhanced global cooperation to safeguard women’s rights. Meanwhile, Tanzania has made significant progress in promoting gender equality and securing women’s rights, particularly in land ownership.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Ms Lucy Kabyemera made the remarks during a side event at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).
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Ms Kabyemera said the country has prioritised creating an enabling environment that allows women and girls to legally own land.
She explained that Tanzania has been implementing various awareness campaigns aimed at educating communities on the importance of women and girls owning land, and addressing the challenges they face in land ownership.
Highlighting the progress, Dr Upendo Matotola, Director of Real Estates at the Ministry, revealed that about 28 per cent of women in Tanzania currently own land.
She said the figure is expected to rise due to the enabling framework provided by the National Land Policy of 2023. Dr Matotola noted that the policy strengthens the protection and administration of land rights for women and girls by addressing barriers created by customs and traditions, particularly regarding inheritance.
She further said that the policy has improved opportunities for women and girls to access and own land. Dr Matotola also highlighted that the introduction of a digital land service delivery system has enhanced access to land services and information, with gender-responsive mechanisms incorporated. So far, 34 per cent of women have accessed land services through the digital platform.
