General
Source: All Africa
TANZANIA is acknowledged for its commitment to amend the remaining discriminatory laws that hamper gender equality. The law of marriage and property and inheritance rights and the country's commitment to implement the principle of 50/50 is a bold step that will position the country well towards achieving gender equality and enhancing women's leadership.
The country has also recognized the importance of women's economic empowerment by committing to ensure that economic growth is leveraged to support women's economic rights and opportunity, recognizing their critical importance for sustainable development.
"I would like to congratulate the United Republic of Tanzania on its commitment to continue to work towards achieving women's rights, women's empowerment and gender equality in Tanzania," UN Women Representative in Tanzania Ms Anna Collins-Falk said in Dar es Salaam last week.
She was speaking to reporters at a brief ceremony to celebrate Kikwete's commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) organized by Women Fund Tanzania in collaboration with UN-Women Tanzania and Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA).
"We commend the President for taking a commitment to action on gender equality on behalf of the government of Tanzania and indeed all Tanzanians at the "Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: A Commitment to Action" in front of more than 80 world leaders, Ms Anna noted.
Chairperson-Coalition for Gender and Constitution Advocate Vicky Mandari congratulated President Kikwete for cooperating with other world leaders to ensure that the governments in developing and developed countries join together to eliminate poverty to their citizens.
Progress has been made in several areas, including women's political participation, with Tanzania being a global leader on temporary special measures, the establishment of institutional mechanisms to integrate gender equality into the mandate of national institutions and the inclusion of equality clauses in the proposed new Constitution and equal numbers of boys and girls attending primary school.