DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government plans to integrate human rights education into school and college curricula to reduce human rights violations in the country.
This initiative aims to promote dignity, respect, protection, and the growth of human rights awareness.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Eliakim Maswi, announced this in Dodoma during a training session for new Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) members.
He said the decision follows a request from THRDC to ensure that human rights education is comprehensively taught in schools and higher learning institutions.
“The ministry will implement this request by incorporating it into the education policy and legal framework so that human rights become a formal subject in the country,” said Maswi.
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Additionally, he noted that the ministry is exploring the possibility of providing legal aid to prisoners with cases in the Court of Appeal to ensure their rights are upheld. He emphasized that the ministry is open to receiving proposals for legal reforms to align with the operational realities of non-governmental organizations.
On his part, the President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Advocate Boniface Mwabukusi, urged new THRDC members to be patient and not to fear challenges that come while defending human rights.
“In human rights advocacy, there are many challenges, including isolation or being misunderstood even by those close to you. But do not lose heart—continue standing for truth and justice,” said Advocate Mwabukusi.
Meanwhile, THRDC National Coordinator, Advocate Onesmo Olengurumwa, noted that the presence of human rights defenders has significantly contributed to ensuring justice in the country.
He added that THRDC members have been working tirelessly to support the government, particularly President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in providing legal aid.
The two-day training in Dodoma aimed to equip new THRDC members with knowledge of risk assessment, institutional management, and legal compliance in their work.
