LHRC Participates in the UN Commission on the Status of Women Meeting in New York

Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) is participating in the 2026 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting taking place in New York, United States March 2026. The meeting brings together stakeholders from around the world to discuss progress on women’s rights and gender equality.

Deogratius Bwire, Director of Empowerment and Human Rights Response, represents LHRC at the meeting. During the event, LHRC also participated in a side event that discussed strategies to advance the rights of women and girls in Africa through legal reforms.

At the side event, LHRC presented Tanzania’s achievements and challenges in implementing recommendations issued by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

LHRC also highlighted the existing collaboration between the Ministry of Community Development, sectoral ministries, civil society organisations, and other institutions involved in promoting and protecting children’s rights in Tanzania.

In 2019, LHRC, in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Rights, submitted a complaint to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child challenging the policy that expelled pregnant schoolgirls from public schools in Tanzania.

The complaint was filed on behalf of Tanzanian schoolgirls, alleging violations of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, as well as other international and regional human rights treaties ratified by Tanzania.

After hearing the case, the committee found that Tanzania had violated the charter and issued 14 recommendations to the government of Tanzania outlining measures that should be taken to remedy the situation and strengthen the protection of girls’ right to education.

Deogratius Bwire, Director of Empowerment and Human Rights Response, represents LHRC at the meeting. During the event, LHRC also participated in a side event that discussed strategies to advance the rights of women and girls in Africa through legal reforms.

At the side event, LHRC presented Tanzania’s achievements and challenges in implementing recommendations issued by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

LHRC also highlighted the existing collaboration between the Ministry of Community Development, sectoral ministries, civil society organisations, and other institutions involved in promoting and protecting children’s rights in Tanzania.

In 2019, LHRC, in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Rights, submitted a complaint to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child challenging the policy that expelled pregnant schoolgirls from public schools in Tanzania.

The complaint was filed on behalf of Tanzanian schoolgirls, alleging violations of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, as well as other international and regional human rights treaties ratified by Tanzania.

After hearing the case, the committee found that Tanzania had violated the charter and issued 14 recommendations to the government of Tanzania outlining measures that should be taken to remedy the situation and strengthen the protection of girls’ right to education.