Founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mr Mo Ibrahim, speaks in Dar es Salaam last week during a meeting to promote good governance in Africa.
By The Citizen Reporter, Arusha
The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) on Tuesday called for enhanced efforts to end violence against women.
The regional parliament also urged national assemblies or parliaments of the East African Community (EAC) partner states to reinforce existing legislations on violence against women so as to put the menace to an end.
Its members suggested the setting up of parliamentary bodies charged with overseeing implementation of violence against women legislations to make them very effective.
They urged the EAC to build strong institutional frameworks which would act as a plan of action against gender violence. It should also develop a coordinated approach and response to violence against women, they said, noting:
"Such action should be guided by the need to have parliamentary committees dedicated to advocating for the elimination of violence against women and increased representation of women in decision making bodies."
They further called on the regional bloc to forge a national and regional consensus on the need to address violence against women as a priority.
It should also build coordinated alliances with stakeholders, including political parties, civil societies and grass roots organisations, they suggested.
They said EAC partner states should not only take practical steps in order to build a strong and effective legal framework to eliminate the menace, but should also harmonise their legislation on all forms of violence against women.
They continued to say: "We strongly condemn all acts of violence against women and girls and urge the partner states to continue with practical measures to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence whether in the family, within the general community or where perpetrated or condoned by officials."
In a motion read by Ms Safina Kwekwe Tsungu, an Eala member from Kenya, the legislators further urged EAC member countries to ensure that women get comprehensive and accessible health services and programmes.
They expressed deep concerns on the plight of women in refugee camps and those internally displaced by armed conflicts in their home countries, saying they were chief targets of organised violence.
Specifically they commended the establishment of the UN Division for the Advancement of Women and the official launching by UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon of the global campaign to address violence against women.
Tanzania is signatory to UNIFEM's 'Say No to Violence Against Women’ campaign of May 24, 2008 and the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of August 20, 1985.
Four other EAC member states-Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda-were also signatories. They ratified the CEDAW at different times between March 1981 and January 1992, according to the Eala.
In addition, Tanzania and Rwanda have ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, commonly referred to as the Maputo Protocol. This instructs on the promotion of human and people's rights.
Burundi, Uganda and Kenya are yet to ratify the protocol with the latter having expressed reservations on it, especially Article 6 on Marriage and Article 7 on Separation, Divorce and Annulment of Marriage.
Another resolution is ready but Ms Dora Byamukama (Eala member from Uganda) called on EAC partner states to address the problem of food insecurity in the region that is reeling under severe drought with many people facing food shortages.
