Bill on Legal Aid Provision in offing

The long-awaited Legal Aid Provision Bill is in its final stage and due to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in the near future.

Justice and Constitution Affairs Deputy Minister Angela Kairuki made the announcement while addressing a media orientation workshop on laws and policies related to gender based violence-GBV organized by Engender Health CHAMPION Project, yesterday in Bagamoyo.

If adopted, the deputy minister said, the document will, among other things, seek to give recognition and accreditation of paralegal and legal aid providers in the country.

"The enactment of the law, expected to regulate issues related to the provision of free legal aid in the country will open a new chapter, enabling Tanzania to implement meaningful reforms that will guarantee effective access to justice for all, including the poor and vulnerable," she said.

Explaining, she said, her ministry has formed a task force to work on the matter and they have already produced a document that will be discussed by the cabinet later this year.

She said the government is aware that the demand of legal aid in the country particularly on issues related to GBV is high and growing.

“The enactment of the law would help bring service close to Tanzanians ...we're committed to ensure that the law comes into effect,” she said noting that GBV threatens the victim's health and economic well-being and has negative social economic impact to the entire country.

Kairuki hailed US Aid for International Development (USAID) and The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for their support and called on other non state actors including media houses to work tirelessly complementing the government to address GBV in the country.

Dr Monica Mhoja Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director Engender Health CHAMPION Project seconded the deputy minister’s views noting that GBV remains a critical problem in Tanzania underscoring the fact that the acts are fueled by misguided traditional customs in the community.

"There have been efforts by the government to address the problem, but still the acts continue in different places in different forms," she said supporting that the decision to train journalists will help the group translate laws and policies related to GBV to the public.

 SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN