Article on Children’s rights
All nations are facing challenges in promoting and protecting human rights. When we today acknowledge the UN Declaration of Human Rights I would like to start in the other end, by noting some of the progress that I have seen in Tanzania, specifically regarding children’s rights.
Seeing too many children having their basic rights denied it is easy to be overwhelmed by the challenges. But if we step back and look at the larger picture it is clear that Tanzania is moving forward on children’s rights. The latest decade has included several important achievements for children in Tanzania. This is noticed in progress toward Millennium Development Goals relating to children. Child mortality has been cut by almost 40 percent in less than a decade. This is remarkable progress that is largely the result of efforts to decrease malaria prevalence. It also means that the country is on track to reach this MDG by 2015.
The goal of achieving universal primary education has also made great progress in the last decade from 59 percent to 95 percent, according to Government statistics. This is a significant achievment in ensuring the right to education to all children. Also the millennium development goal relating to gender equity in education is achieved. Challenges remain in increasing the number of children who complete their schooling, in integrating disabled children as well as in strengthening the quality of the education provided, which the Government is taking on. And of course all that is urgently needed to do both to prevent early pregnancies through education on sexual and reproductive health and rights – and to allow pregnant girls to return to school.
While we take note of this progress in wellbeing for children, there are huge challenges remaining. Stunting of children as an effect of malnutrition still affects as many as 38 percent of Tanzanian children, which is very high in an international comparison. Even if this figure is decreasing it ought be given more attention and trigger even more action than before.
This year it is 20 years since the International Convention for the Rights of the Child was adopted. This convention was a great leap forward for the global community in promoting and protecting the rights and wellbeing of girls and boys all over the world.
The Law of the Child Act passed in the Bunge this November is a clear sign that Tanzania is committed to continue to forward children’s rights and wellbeing. It is a landmark decision and an essential move to transform the requirements specified in the Convention on the Rights of the child.
The bill recognises the rights of all Tanzanian children to be treated without discrimination, to have the right to a name and a nationality, it emphasizes the rights and duties of parents, the right to freedom of opinion and the right to protection from degrading treatment. We now look forward to the implementation of the law with mechanisms being established to ensure the law is followed and that children can claim their rights. Ensuring that all children receive birth certificates is important and it is a challenge that progress so far has been slow in ensuring birth certificates to Tanzanian children. A birth certificate is after all the key to secure citizenship and to other human rights. An important part of the Children’s rights agenda is of course also to prevent child marriages - making sure that marriage age is 18 for both girls and boys.
My sincere hope is that the new law will energise the process of securing children’s right to participate and to have their voices heard. Meeting with children in the country I have often been impressed. Young children of eight have spoken clearly on serious issues and problems facing them. Many times I feel that Tanzanian children are more mature for their age than children from my own country. The Children’s councils increasingly established – often with the help of Save the Children and support from Government – represent encouraging steps forward. But we adults also need to consider what we are told and take action.
The survey Voices of the Children contains many important messages to adults. One of the messages that made the strongest impression on me was the children’s experience of being beaten by adults, seeing this as a clear impediment for learning.
I would like all adults to step up our efforts to prevent and stop all forms of violence against children. Be it cases of rapes against girls – much too often being a horrible reality and much too seldom effectively addressed. Be it children with albinism living in fear of future attacks. Be it domestic violence often victimising women and children alike and often related to abuse of alcohol.
Or be it corporal punishment in families as well as in schools which simply could and should be abolished.
All children have the right to a life in dignity.
Staffan HerrströmAmbassador of Sweden to Tanzania