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TAWLA celebrates 20 years of active campaigning and support for women and children's rights Print E-mail

10th MAY 2010:

TAWLA celebrates 20 years of active campaigning and support for women and children's rights

Haki ya mwanamke ni haki ya wote

The Tanzanian Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) will be joined by His Excellency, the President  Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete to celebrate 20 years of campaigning and support for women and children’s rights at Mnazi Mmoja grounds (Dar es Salaam) on 10th May 2010.

TAWLA, which also supports the professional development of women lawyers in Tanzania, promotes women and children’s rights. Issues are determined by the problems that women and children seeking help bring to the organisation through its legal aid programme. Activity is backed by research and consultation with members. This means TAWLA has firsthand understanding of the issues facing Tanzanian women today.


Over the last 20 years, TAWLA has:

  • Reached over 2 million people, raising awareness of legal rights via radio/TV, training paralegals, books and brochures
  • Provided legal aid directly to more than 10,000 women and children
  • Helped to bring about legal reform including giving women the right to own property (Land Act) and revisions to the Sexual Offences Act
  • Assisted women to resolve inheritance issues by reducing the backlog in probate cases through changing procedures.
  • Mobilized lawyers to help vulnerable people through legal aid clinics
  • Created a network of 450 women lawyers

To mark TAWLA’s achievements, on the 10th May, TAWLA will:

  • Hold a rally from Kisutu Magistrate’s court to Mnazi Mmoja grounds (Dar es Salaam)
  • Launch TAWLA’s strategy 2010-2014
  • Provide legal aid services at Mnazi Mmoja grounds on the 10th and for the whole week(11th – 14th May 2010 in Bagamoyo, Temete (UMITI offices) and TAWLA house)
 
Maria Kashunda, Chair of TAWLA says ‘Women’s rights are everyone’s rights. We have had fantastic success over the last 20 years and want to celebrate the progress TAWLA has made’

She went on to say:
TAWLA can’t rest as there is still a huge amount to do. We need to continue to provide high quality legal aid for women and children who need it and to campaign on the issues affecting women and children in Tanzania. We still need to make significant legislative and cultural changes on key issues including land rights (particularly around inheritance and divorce), good governance, child labour & trafficking and how we treat young offenders‘

 

Notes to Editors:

  • TAWLA:
  1. Provides legal aid services to economically disadvantaged women and children.
  2. Undertakes policy and legislative research/advocacy, and campaigns for women and children on key issues of equality, gender and human rights   
  3. Supports the professional development of women lawyers in Tanzania
  • TAWLA provides legal aid services on Monday and Wednesday at the TAWLA office in Dar es Salaam and daily in the regional offices at Arusha and Dodoma
  • TAWLA has offices in Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Arusha and Dodoma.
  • Maria Kashonda is the Chairperson of TAWLA and is available for interview. Please contact Annmarie Mavinjana +255 (0) 754 933683 or Tike Mwambipile +255 (0) 713 599 486. Alternatively email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • To mark 20 years of activity, TAWLA have published 20 stories based on research and legal aid from women and children they have helped to illustrate the continuing need to campaign for women and children’s rights. (attached).
  • A full copy of TAWLA’s strategic plan 2010-2014 is available on the website www.tawla.or.tz. A hard copy of the summary will be distributed at the event, it will also be available on the website.