Declaration of the National Womens Dialogue 10-15 April 2013 Dodoma, Tanzania Representative Women from all regions

of Tanzania spent five days in Dodoma debating and discussing issues that are related to womens rights and equality. This Declaration is the outcome of these dialogues. We want to use this declaration to call for action from our Parliamentarians and government. We also want to present this Declaration as a commitment from the participants in the first National Womens Dialogue to carry back to our communities all of the information that we have gained, to share, and to continue the dialogue. We therefore: 1. Call on Parliament and the government to: a. Ensure that womens voices are heard in the Constitutional review b. Ensure that womens rights are included in the constitution c. Pass legislation that protects women from GBV in their homes and in their communities at large and ensure proper implementation of the law. d. Create special sections within courts for womens cases (safe spaces for women to testify in cases of sexual and other abuses) e. Follow-up on the threat to land rights in Loliondo and its impact on womens livelihoods
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f. Land investments that are not benefiting communities should be limited to short term leases g. Improve the access and quality of education for girls and allow girls who have dropped out of school due to pregnancy to return. h. Improve womens access, including bigger budgets, to maternal health services for women who live in remote areas. i. Ensure that rural women have equal access to relevant agricultural inputs at the appropriate times. j. Improve womens access to markets for their products. k. Create larger funds that go to District for improving womens economic activities l. Access to water in some areas needs to be improved. Women spend a lot of time searching for water which puts them at risk of violence. Create water points at areas that are close to where women live. m. Ensure that MPs visit their areas more regularly at least 4 times per year. n. Build dormitories at secondary schools to protect girls from abuse when they travel long distances to school. o. Prevent religious conflicts and promote religious understanding and harmony.

As CSO Gender Coalition, we commit to support the declaration raised by over 300 women who participated in the National Womens Dialogue. We believe that issues raised, represent the voices of most Tanzanian women especially those in marginalised areas.

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As Civil Society Organisations, we take this opportunity to call on the government to ensure that the new constitution protects and promotes womens rights and equality. 15/04/2013

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