State of Human Rights in Tanzania
While Tanzania has made some progress in upholding human rights, significant challenges remain.
1. Freedom of Expression:
- Restrictions: Laws criminalize speech that criticizes the government or incites violence. Journalists face harassment and arbitrary detention.
- Examples: In 2021, the government shut down several media outlets and arrested opposition leaders for critical remarks.
2. Freedom of Assembly:
- Restrictions: Public gatherings require police permission, which is often denied. Protests are often met with violence.
- Examples: In 2020, police fired live ammunition on a peaceful opposition rally, killing at least one person.
3. Freedom of Association:
- Restrictions: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) face registration hurdles and surveillance. Some NGOs have been deregistered or suspended.
- Examples: In 2022, the government revoked the registration of a prominent human rights NGO, the Tanzania Legal and Human Rights Centre.
4. Torture and Ill-Treatment:
- Prevalence: Reports of torture and ill-treatment by police and security forces are common. Victims rarely receive justice.
- Examples: In 2021, a human rights lawyer was abducted and tortured by unknown individuals.
5. Arbitrary Detention:
- Widespread: Political opponents, journalists, and other activists are often detained without charge for extended periods.
- Examples: In 2022, the leader of the opposition party, Chadema, was arrested and detained for over a month without trial.
6. Fair Trial Guarantees:
- Deficiencies: Courts are often opaque and politically influenced. Defendants often face delays and lack access to adequate legal representation.
- Examples: In 2021, a court convicted a group of opposition leaders on treason charges without sufficient evidence.
7. Freedom from Discrimination:
- Discrimination: Women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities face significant discrimination in employment, housing, and education.
- Examples: In 2020, the government banned public gatherings for LGBTQ+ people.
8. Right to Education:
- Access: Despite progress in primary education, access to secondary and tertiary education remains limited.
- Examples: In 2021, only 20% of eligible students enrolled in secondary school.
9. Right to Health:
- Challenges: Maternal mortality rates remain high. Access to healthcare in rural areas is limited.
- Examples: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in the healthcare system, leading to a surge in deaths.
10. Prison Conditions:
- Overcrowding: Tanzania's prisons are overcrowded and unsanitary. Prisoners often lack access to basic amenities and healthcare.
- Examples: In 2021, an inmate died in custody due to overcrowding and lack of medical attention.
Positive Developments:
- Tanzania has ratified key human rights conventions, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
- The government has established human rights commissions to address complaints.
- Some laws protecting freedom of speech and assembly have been reformed.
However, these improvements have yet to fully address the systemic human rights concerns facing Tanzanians.