order to further institutionalize this undertaking in Zanzibar, the State Party is currently developing an
Inclusive Education Policy in collaboration with different stakeholders (both state and non-state partners).
Furthermore, in Zanzibar the Spinsters, Widows and Female Divorcee Protection Act (1985) was repealed
and replaced by Spinsters and Single Parent Children Protection Act of 2005, which allows pregnant girls to
return to school after giving birth. In realising this end without harming the girl both socially and
psychologically, the girl is given an opportunity to choose a school of her choice to which she can resume her
studies to the very end. Previously, the Spinsters, Widows and Female Divorcee Protection Act (1985) made
it an offence for a girl to be impregnated while in school; and such girl found pregnant whilst at school was
consequently expelled from school.
31. The State Party has undertaken several measures to raise awareness of the negative consequences
of child marriages and to eliminate discrimination and social stigma against pregnant girls and teenage
mothers, children with disabilities, children with HIV/AIDS and street children in the Mainland, in relation to
the two child laws. These measures include:
(a)
The preparation of a draft Guideline on reinstating/ re-entry pregnant school girls
back to school (2015) in the Mainland ;
(b)
Through the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF III 2014 – 2017 ), the State Party
has been capacitating families in income generation activities (IGAs) without any discrimination. The
research has shown that Child Focused cash transfer reduce by half the risk of incidence and
prevalence of transactional sex for teenage girls (The Lacent Global Health, December 2013).
(c)
The launch campaign on child marriage free zone has helped to create awareness to
those tribes which looks and consider a girl child as a source of wealth and hence deprive their right
to education.
(d)
The adoption of Parenting Education Manual, which aim at elimination of child
marriages by educating families to take responsibility of developing a girl child instead of
withdrawing them from school for marriage.
(e)
Media campaign and publications to stop child marriages and empower girl child to
speak;
(f)
Action plan for Police Gender and Children Desks 2013 - 2016 for strengthening the
Police response to GBV and Child abuse. 6 pilot Regions will be strengthened and 1267 Police
Officers trained to respond to children matters.
32. In respect of Zanzibar, the State Party has enacted the HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Management)
Act in 201339, which, inter alia, addresses the issue of discrimination, social stigma, education, person with
disabilities and affected with HIV/AIDS.40 The issues of children living or affected with HIV/AIDS, persons
with disabilities including children and women and children protection have been addressed. Furthermore, the
Act guarantees these group of people in terms of access to health care services, non discrimination in the
education institutions and general prohibition of discrimination. In addition, the Ministry of Education and
Vocational Training has established inclusive education system where every district has at least one school
has inclusion program, where children with disabilities get opportunity to learn and interact together with
other children without being discriminated. In addition, the establishment of six One Stop Centers at
Chakechake, Wete, Mnazi Mmoja, Makunduchi, Kivunge and Micheweni serves as a safety valve for children
victims of discrimination and social stigma.
33. Similarly, URT has formulated a number of policy documents to ensure that children are equally
addressed. These include the formulation of Child protection guidelines in primary education 2014; Parenting
Education for Child Care Practitioners and Parents 2014; the Standard Operating Procedures for Juvenile
Justice 2014.
39
40
Act No. 18 of 2013.
Ibid, Sections 32-34.
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