On September 28, Sweden’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Staffan Herrström, opened a ministerial round table discussion on a shadow report on the Government of Tanzania’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.
The report has been prepared by SAHRINGON (The Southern African Human Rights NGO Network) with support from Sweden and other donors. The purpose of the shadow report is to remind the government of its obligation of reporting and to implement human rights under the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural rights. Tanzania has a recognized long term commitment to the United Nations, which is the basis for all UN Covenants and Conventions.
- While appreciating efforts undertaken by the Government to implement the covenant rights still many things remains to be done. Let me take the right to education as a case in point. The right to education may have been fulfilled to the extent that there are schools for all children to attend, but what is the quality of those schools? We should remember that the right to education is not only enrolment rates. The Right to education is about equality, free accessibility and availability of both primary, secondary, technical and vocational school, said ambassador Staffan Herrström.
- Delivering on rights is also a question of prioritisation, domestic resource mobilisation, effective use of available resources and of fighting mismanagement of resources. Corruption is indeed a violation of Rights. As a newcomer to Tanzania I have noted the open debate in media and in parliament on corruption. Tanzanian citizens, struggling with poverty, can reasonably feel that government ought to respond and act, and make sure that potentially very serious issues are investigated and adequately addressed in an open and transparent manner. Not because there are donors here, but because there are Tanzanian people and taxpayers with Rights. Some processes are going on but I think there is a need for a more transparent response and reaction of that kind from government, said ambassador Staffan Herrström.
- Sweden will remain committed to support the Government of Tanzania’s efforts of ensuring implementation of the Covenant rights as well as to support the civil society in their endeavours to supplement government efforts through advocacy, awareness raising and human rights monitoring, said ambassador Staffan Herrström.