Uddrag af omtalen af programsamarbejdslandet Tanzania i det amerikanske udenrigsministeriums årsrapport for 2004 om menneskerettighedernes stilling verden over.
The United Republic of Tanzania is a multiparty state led by the President of the mainland, Benjamin Mkapa. Zanzibar, although integrated into the countrys governmental and party structure, has its own President and legislature and exercises considerable autonomy.
While there have been improvements with respect to human rights in recent years, the Governments overall record remains poor. Police were more disciplined during the year; however, members of the police and security forces mistreated suspected criminals.
Fair and expeditious trials were problematic due to an inefficient, understaffed judiciary subject to corruption. Prison conditions remained harsh and life-threatening. Child prostitution and child labor remained problems.
The U.S. strategy aims to improve respect for human rights and to foster an environment for free and fair elections that meet international standards in 2005. The United States consistently engaged the Government on a range of human rights issues and coordinated this strategy to effect change with all U.S. agencies in Tanzania.
Following the 2001 post-election violence, the United States has focused on decreasing tension between the long-ruling CCM party and the main opposition political party on Zanzibar. In 2003, embassy officials continued to meet frequently with representatives from both parties.
Embassy officials also met regularly in Zanzibars Joint Presidential Supervisory Committee (JPSC) to voice continued U.S. support for the bipartisan “Muafaka” reconciliation accord. The accord, known by the Swahili term, mandates electoral reforms, establishment of a permanent voter registry and investigation of the post-election violence that took place in early 2001.
The two major political parties negotiated this accord in the wake of massive electoral irregularities and conflict on Zanzibar following the late 2000 general elections. The JPSC continued to supervise the implementation of these provisions in 2003. Embassy officials observed the May Parliamentary by-elections on Pemba, which were a critical test for the “Muafaka,” and found them to be free and fair.
The embassys democracy assistance programs and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) civil society strengthening program focus on long-term efforts to build the capacity of grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
USAID allocated 2 million dollar toward a multi-year project to strengthen the national parliaments representative, lawmaking and oversight functions. The Public Affairs Section sponsors experts and exchange programs about human rights, democracy and good governance to increase awareness of these issues.
With US-funding Civil Disorder Management Training, which continued in 2003, gave police the skills to manage large demonstrations, protect demonstrators rights against ill treatment and build the Governments confidence in its ability to manage demonstrations so that more rallies may be authorized rather than being banned outright. In 2003 only one rally was banned.
INL has also provided approximately 300.000 dollar in multi-year funding for a forensic laboratory to improve police investigation skills, speed up investigations (during which the accused is often locked up) and reduce the number of wrongful arrests and convictions.
One of the embassys most effective tools for highlighting human rights practices has been its annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday.
In addition to focusing on U.S. efforts to protect human rights at home and by extension providing a model for Tanzania, the observance includes the naming of a “Drum Major for Justice” laureate each year. The prestigious award receives widespread publicity.
In 2004, Ms. Justa Mwaituka, Director of the Kiota Womens Health and Development Organization (KIWOHEDE) received the award for her anti-trafficking work with vulnerable rural young women unprepared for city life. KIWOHEDE was a recipient of a Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) grant to build 16 drop-in shelters for abused and trafficked girls.
In 2003 the DHRF supported womens empowerment. One 2003 DHRF project supported a local NGOs participatory drama about female genital mutilation that traveled to 54 rural villages and reached an audience of 46.807 people. Another 2003 DHRF project supported legal education and human rights awareness for Maasai women.
With an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in excess of 12 percent and growing, the rights of people affected by the disease is becoming an issue for national dialogue.
USAID support helped create the Tanzanian Parliamentarians AIDS Coalition, an NGO of Members of Parliament who seek to use their positions to advocate against discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, minimize stigma, protect orphans and vulnerable groups and ensure proper accounting for the public funds designated to fight HIV/AIDS.
The U.S. Labor Department continues to support a large multi-year program to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in Tanzania. As of December 2003, 3.895 children had been withdrawn from four targeted sectors. The Labor Department also supports a program aimed at strengthening labor relations.
The United States has been active in raising awareness about trafficking in persons and is a member of a working group that includes representatives from the Ministries of Social Development, Gender and Children, Labor and Education, and the Police Forces Criminal Investigation Division, as well as international and local NGOs.
The Embassy donated two shipping containers for use as outreach centers by a local NGO working with child commercial sex workers. The Embassy also released a public service announcement in Swahili, the local language, about the danger of trafficking.
A result of the increased awareness of trafficking was the first-ever arrest for trafficking of children in Tanzania.
Kilde: Det amerikanske udenrigsministerium
