Enforcement organs have failed to implement the law
which forbids Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), allowing thousands of
girls to be subjected to the malpractice on the pretext of following
traditions.
The observation was made on Tuesday by a paralegal from Serengeti, Samweli Mewama during a two-day training symposium for paralegals organised by the Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC). He explained that despite efforts to end FGM, support from the law enforcers has been lacking.
Mewama said: “We have been playing our role as paralegals to stop violence against children, especially on the issue of circumcision for girls…we all know that the SOSPA is there, but I am sorry to say that, instead of implementing the law, concerned authorities have politicised the issue.”
According to him, the penalty for this offence is imprisonment ranging from five to 15 years, a fine of up to 300,000/- or both.
He said apart from the FGM, other negative traditions still being embraced by the people of Serengeti include assaulting women and children as well as denying women the right to own land.
In another development, other paralegals Lydia Thomas from Mbulu and Charles Ole Nangoya from Loliondo said the big challenges in their duties were solving land disputes between farmers and livestock keepers and improper use of land to feed livestock and at the same time apportion it to agriculture.
Earlier, the LHRC Executive Director, Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, said there were reports that the paralegals do not get support from government officials. It is said that the latter do not recognise their contribution in solving amicably the various disputes in their societies. “The paralegals told us that while doing their work they face difficulties, especially in issues of early pregnancies, land and education. We decided to teach our paralegals how non- governmental organisations operate.”
The training has involved 54 paralegals from 28 districts across the country as well as four village legal workers from Kiteto and Singida.
The aim was to teach them how to manage community-based organizations, solve conflicts and enable them in implementing their duties efficiently.
The observation was made on Tuesday by a paralegal from Serengeti, Samweli Mewama during a two-day training symposium for paralegals organised by the Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC). He explained that despite efforts to end FGM, support from the law enforcers has been lacking.
Mewama said: “We have been playing our role as paralegals to stop violence against children, especially on the issue of circumcision for girls…we all know that the SOSPA is there, but I am sorry to say that, instead of implementing the law, concerned authorities have politicised the issue.”
According to him, the penalty for this offence is imprisonment ranging from five to 15 years, a fine of up to 300,000/- or both.
He said apart from the FGM, other negative traditions still being embraced by the people of Serengeti include assaulting women and children as well as denying women the right to own land.
In another development, other paralegals Lydia Thomas from Mbulu and Charles Ole Nangoya from Loliondo said the big challenges in their duties were solving land disputes between farmers and livestock keepers and improper use of land to feed livestock and at the same time apportion it to agriculture.
Earlier, the LHRC Executive Director, Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, said there were reports that the paralegals do not get support from government officials. It is said that the latter do not recognise their contribution in solving amicably the various disputes in their societies. “The paralegals told us that while doing their work they face difficulties, especially in issues of early pregnancies, land and education. We decided to teach our paralegals how non- governmental organisations operate.”
The training has involved 54 paralegals from 28 districts across the country as well as four village legal workers from Kiteto and Singida.
The aim was to teach them how to manage community-based organizations, solve conflicts and enable them in implementing their duties efficiently.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
