UNA Tanzania participated in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Mid-term Stakeholders Consultative Session in Morogoro On 13th and 14th May 2024. The session was convened by the Legal Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC). More than 50 participants joined the session working on various thematic areas, such as, women’s and children’s rights, minority and People with Disabilities’ rights, economic and social rights, civil and political rights, general human rights, and human rights defenders in general. As part of the UPR process, Tanzania is anticipated to be reviewed for a midterm period spanning from 2022 to 2024. This consultative session is an integral aspect of that process. For the years 2022–2024, a shadow report is anticipated to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in November 2024.
Mr. Goodluck Willy (on the right) Sustainable Development and Human Rights Programs Manager at UNA Tanzania on a discussion during the stakeholders Universal Periodic Review working session in Morogoro.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a cornerstone of global human rights progress. Tanzania actively participates in this process as a UN member. But young people, a crucial demographic, have been inadequately reflected in the report. UNA Tanzania actively participated in the stakeholders consultative session to ensure issues of concern to young people’s rights are addressed.
Furthermore, on 16th May UNA Tanzania collaborated with THRDC to address this gap by holding a youth consultation session focused on youth inclusion in the UPR Mid term process. The session brought together stakeholders and youth representatives from around 30 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Dar es salaam to explore, integrate youth voices and recommendations as well as champion their fundamental rights.
The session aimed to empower youth representatives by:
- Building their understanding of the UPR process.
- Facilitating the development of actionable recommendations for the UPR Mid-term report
Youth represenatatives at the consultation session on the Universal Periodic Review in Dar es salaam.
These recommendations targeted key areas like good governance, ICT access, education, and economic empowerment – ensuring young people’s needs and aspirations are heard.
Stakeholders emerged from the session committed to collaborating in enhancing youth participation in Tanzania’s UPR process by not only submitting youth recommendations but also championing the integration of a youth thematic group in the mid term report to make youth voices explicitly heard. This collective effort signifies a vital step towards the full realization of human rights for all and leaving no one behind!
