“Through relevant and innovative programs we promote public accountability on human rights protection”
The Human Rights Monitoring Program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at safeguarding human rights, ensuring accountability, and creating a just and equitable society. Our objective is to monitor, respond to, and address instances of human rights violations.
With a committed and well-trained team of over 200 Human Rights Monitors dispersed across every region, we systematically gather, assess, and respond to violations using contemporary approaches. At the heart of our efforts for effective and efficient human rights monitoring is the digital system designed specifically for this purpose, a system known as Haki Kiganjani.
The system simultaneously with a team works together in documenting and aiding the response to Human Rights Violations occurring all over the country. The data amassed through this program serves as a valuable resource that significantly informs and strengthens our advocacy initiatives, as well as contributes to the content of various organization publications one being the annually produced Human Rights Report. By systematically collecting and analyzing this data, we are empowered to effectively advocate for policy changes, highlight critical issues, and promote awareness within our community and among relevant stakeholders.
This information forms the basis of our reports, research papers, and other publications, which are instrumental in shedding light on human rights concerns, disseminating vital information, and driving dialogue and action toward improving human rights on a broader scale. The data's role in these processes underscores its paramount importance in driving the objectives of our program and our commitment to advancing human rights causes and walking towards a just and equitable society.
The advocacy unit is a central figure of the organization responsible for conducting policy, bills, and law analysis to scrutinize its alignment with human rights standards. Furthermore, the unit disseminates the key findings of the analysis report to the respective policymakers through strategic engagements in a coordinated advocacy intervention design. Furthermore, the unit brings together and analyzes issues for advocacy tapped by Legal Aid Clinics and other program interventions with the overarching objective of suggesting suitable and feasible policy recommendations.
With a dedicated team of professional youngsters, the organization communicates advocacy messages and priorities to the Legislature, Judiciary, and Executive arms of the state with consideration to political, socioeconomic, and cultural dynamics in a gender-responsible approach.
At LHRC, we are committed to fostering an inclusive society where gender equality, empowerment of women, protection of children, and support for individuals with disabilities are central to our mission. At LHRC, we prioritize initiatives that support gender equality, uplift women, safeguard children, and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities. Our programs are designed to break down barriers, provide opportunities for growth and education, and ensure a society where everyone has the chance to thrive. This is realized through legal empowerment and social accountability by ensuring laws are implemented, amended, enacted, and conform to international human rights standards to cater for the needs of these groups.
We believe in a world where gender does not limit one's potential. Our initiatives focus on promoting gender equality through various avenues, including education, legal analysis and reforms, Legal aid, advocacy, and awareness campaigns on GBV, Child abuse, and the rights of these groups. By breaking stereotypes and fostering environments of inclusivity, we aim to empower individuals of all genders to reach their full potential.
Children are the future, and ensuring their well-being is paramount. Our initiatives focus on safeguarding children's rights, providing access to education, healthcare, and protection from exploitation and abuse. We work closely with communities and stakeholders to create safe spaces where children can grow, learn, and flourish.
We advocate for the rights and inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Our programs aim to remove barriers to accessing education, employment, and healthcare. Through awareness campaigns, accessibility initiatives, and legal reforms, we strive to create a more inclusive society where everyone, regardless of ability, can fully participate and contribute.
At LHRC, we believe that inclusion is not just a goal; it's a fundamental value that drives positive change. Together, we can build a society where every individual's potential is recognized and realized, irrespective of gender, sex, age, or ability.
Research is one of LHRC’s key programmes, seeking to ensure the availability of data and information to support evidence-based advocacy initiatives. The main objective of LHRC’s research programme is to document human rights issues and violations and conduct research on selected human rights issues to generate data and information to support the advocacy function. The programme oversees the gathering of data, both internally and externally, and the analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of the findings of research projects. Key deliverables under this programme include the Tanzania Human Rights Report and the Human Rights and Business Report, which have become leading references on the human rights situation in Tanzania. Through this programme, LHRC also collaborates with partners and like-minded organizations within Tanzania and beyond to undertake research-related activities.
The corporate accountability and environmental justice unit aims to improve the country's compliance with international, regional, and human rights standards. It seeks to ensure that corporations must comply with and adhere to human rights principles during their operations. The unit works to ensure that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are followed, as well as the standards of responsible business conduct. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights serve as a foundational framework for businesses looking to incorporate human rights into their operations. Its stance is on ensuring compliance with the state's duty to protect, corporate responsibility to respect, and access to remedy. Adopting a robust business and human rights program not only helps companies fulfill their ethical responsibilities but also contributes to long-term sustainability and positive relationships with stakeholders.
The program improves understanding of policies, practices, and initiatives implemented by businesses to ensure that their operations respect and promote human rights. As companies are increasingly held accountable for their social and environmental impacts, this concept has gained traction. Policy development and implementation, due diligence, stakeholder engagement, training and awareness, reporting and transparency, legal compliance, and remedy mechanisms are all part of the program's goal of improving responsible business conduct.
Since 1995 the organization has been utilizing a combination of advocacy approaches to advocate for a citizens-centered constitution which sparked societal dialogues for the demand of a new constitution in the country. LHRC embraces technology by hosting a digital archive with abundant constitutional-related resources branded as the “Katiba Database” which enriches a large part of interested civil society, journalists, faith-based organizations, and academia.
In line with the constitution’s demand, the unit leads the organization on various observation missions in civic and general elections which resulted in gradual electoral legal reforms.
LHRC's approach to promoting access to justice and human rights through media and grassroots engagement is comprehensive and impactful. The use of both traditional media outlets like community radios and digital platforms helps reach millions of listeners across various zones in the country. This approach facilitates education, empowerment, and motivation among grassroots communities.
The involvement of over 20 community radios in specific zones ensures a broad reach, allowing facilitators to educate and inform listeners on human rights issues. Monthly timetables and reports submitted by these radios help track and assess the impact of their work, ensuring accountability and effectiveness.
Moreover, the utilization of paralegals is a strategic way to reach communities at the grassroots level. With over 633 paralegals operating across focused zones, they play a crucial role in educating communities on various human rights topics according to a structured timetable. Their work aims to contribute to the establishment of a fair and just society.
This combined approach of utilizing media outlets and paralegals enables the dissemination of crucial information and empowers communities to understand and advocate for their rights. Ultimately, it contributes significantly to promoting accountability, access to justice, and the protection of human rights in diverse regions of the country.
The unit conducts close monitoring of parliamentary sessions, which helps the organization make follow-ups on decisions and specific policy issues to be adopted in the legislation-making process in the country.
Moreover, through a designated study, the unit proliferates a series of coordinated interventions to advocate for increased participation in governance and democratic spaces.
To magnify the advocacy initiatives, the unit ushers the organization to utilize regional and international forums to bring into action advocacy messages for the international community intervention in a respective policy issue.
The unit anchored its efforts on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 16, which envisages Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
