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Claiming Human Rights - in the United Republic of Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a member of the United Nations and the African Union. It has ratified many UN Human Rights Conventions (compare list on the right) and thus has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these universal human rights documents.

The United Republic of Tanzania is a Swahili- and English-speaking country in East Africa. With an area of 945,203 square km it is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east. On a global scale, its population density is low. The capital of the country, which became independent between 9 December 1961 and 26 April 1964 from the United Kingdom, is Dar es Salaam. The United Republic of Tanzania is a member of the regional economic communities SADC and EAC.

With a Human Development Index of 0.53 the United Republic of Tanzania ranks 151st of 182 countries ranked in the UNDP Human Development Report of 2009. Life expectancy of the 42.5 million inhabitants at birth is 56 years, population growth is 2.9 percent per year. GNI is 440 US-$ per capita. External debt is 31.4 percent of gross national income. Primary school enrolment is 97.8 percent.

In as far as the United Republic of Tanzania has ratified the Optional Protocols for UN Human Rights Conventions or has accepted the Competence of the corresponding UN Treaty Bodies (compare list on the right), the inhabitants of the United Republic of Tanzania and their representatives are able to invoke their human rights through these bodies.

All inhabitants of the United Republic of Tanzania may turn to the UN Human Rights Committee through procedure 1503, to the Special Rapporteurs for violations of specific human rights or to ECOSOC for women's rights violations.

Since the United Republic of Tanzania is a member state of UNESCO, its citizens may use the UNESCO procedure for human rights violations in UNESCO's fields of mandate.

Employers' or workers' and certain other organizations (not individuals) of the United Republic of Tanzania may file complaints through the ILO procedure in the cases of those conventions which the United Republic of Tanzania has ratified.

Since the United Republic of Tanzania is an AU member, its citizens and NGOs may file complaints to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

They may also file complaints according to the EU guidelines (on Human Rights Defenders, Death Penalty and Torture) to Embassies of EU Member States and the Delegations of the European Commission.

In cases of human rights violations by multinational enterprises, they may also invoke the National Contact Point in an OECD member state.

The United Republic of Tanzania has joined the International Criminal Court, it may thus be called upon in case of severe crimes.

Signature:   Ratification: 1976 (accession) Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol:   Ratification optional protocol:   Reservations:   Last State report: 2007 Last concluding observations: 2009  
Signature:   Ratification: 1976 (accession) Reservations: no/non Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature:   Ratification: 1972 (accession) Reservations: no/non Competence CERD acknowledged: no/non Last State report: 2004 Last concluding observations: 2007  
Signature: 1980 Ratification: 1985 Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol:   Ratification optional protocol: 2006 (accession) Reservations:   Last State report: 2009 Last concluding observations: 1998  
Signature:   Ratification:   Reservations:   Article 22 competence acknowledged:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 1990 Ratification: 1991 Reservations: no/non Last State report: 2005 Last concluding observations: 2006  
Signature:   Ratification:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 2008 Ratification:   Reservations:   Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Signature: 2007 Ratification: 2009 Reservations: no/non Signature optional protocol: 2008 Ratification optional protocol: 2009 Reservations: no/non Last State report:   Last concluding observations:    
Ratification Banjul Charter: 1984 Ratification Protocol African Court: 2006 Ratification Children's Charter: 2003 Ratification Maputo Protocol: 2007 Last State report: 2008  
International Criminal Court joined: yes/oui  
Country Rapporteur: no/non  
National Human Rights Institute: yes/oui  

Last change: 28.01.10 - 12:48