Annual Progress Report 2014
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ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Engaging the Public in the Constitution Review Process - Promotes Citizens’ Right to Participation ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Engaging the Public in the Constitution Review Process - Promotes Citizens’ Right to Participation Report Compilation Legal and Human Rights Centre Editors Dr. Helen Kijo-Bisimba Adv. Harold Sungusia Castor Kalemera Development Partners Embassy of Sweden Embassy of Norway The Foundation for Civil Society AcT - DFID Legal Services Facility Layout & Design Rodrick Maro © LHRC May 2015 ii ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Engaging the Public in the Constitution Review Process - Promotes Citizens’ Right to Participation CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS....................................................................................xiii MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIRPERSON...............................................xvi MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.............................................xviii LHRC OVERVIEW..................................................................................................xxi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................xxv CHAPTER ONE: CITIZENS’ CENTERED CONSTITUTION ACHIEVED AND ALL LAWS REVIEWED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTION...................................................................................1 1.1 Increased public awareness and understanding on the constitutional review process...............................................................................................1 1.1.1 Strategy developed and implemented for mobilizing public engagement and mobilization for effective participation in given their views..............2 1.1.2 Advocacy strategy developed and implemented to ensure the key elements of human rights protection are included in the draft constitution.2 1.2 Increased pressure on constitutional review commission to give all members of the public an opportunity to express their views..........................3 1.3 Increased pressure on constituent assembly and national government and political leaders respect citizens views on the constitution.......................3 1.3.1 The Big Bang Campaign............................................................................3 1.3.2 Katiba ni Yetu Movie and Katiba ni Yetu Song........................................10 1.3.3 Dissemination of Constitutional related Publications..............................11 1.3.4 Katiba App...............................................................................................11 1.3.5 Bulky SMS to all Phones..........................................................................12 1.3.6 Public Debates, Symposia and Workshops on the Constitutional Review Process........................................................................................12 1.3.7 Coordinating SCOC members’ field visits...............................................13 1.3.8 Strategic Positioning and Having an Office in Dodoma..........................14 1.4 Addressing the Stalemate and Advocacy to the State House.......................16 1.4.1 Strategy developed and implemented for mobilizing public iii ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Engaging the Public in the Constitution Review Process - Promotes Citizens’ Right to Participation engagement and mobilization for effective participation in the constitutional referendum................................................................17 CHAPTER TWO: IMPROVED LAWS, POLICIES, PRACTICES THAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS SENSITIVE....................................................................21 2.1 Strengthened commitment of key Government, Parliament and Civil Society actors advocating for reforms of judicial system and structure......................21 2.1.1 Strengthened Model legal aid clinic with ability to identify legal gaps/shortcomings for changes through research, advocacy and strategic litigation of public interest cases..............................................................21 2.1.2 Increased public and targeted advocacy for reform of laws and practices affecting women, youth and children........................................25 2.2 Increased willingness of the Government and Development Partners to make resources available for reforms of the judicial system and structure....27 2.2.1 Develop, Document and Demonstrate an Effective Legal Aid Model.....27 2.2.2 Increased Engagement with Parliament to have Human Rights Sensitive Legislation................................................................................30 2.2.3 Supply Legal Aid Materials to Empower Clients....................................35 2.2.4 Increased engagement with likeminded organizations to advocate for government adherence to International Human Rights Instruments.36 2.2.5 Mobile Legal Aid Team with Capacity to Identify Issues for Advocacy and Support Paralegals.............................................................................41 2.3 Increased public awareness on the need to intensify their demands on reforming laws to conform to Human Rights Principles................................42 2.3.1 Strengthened networking for identification and exposition of key issues for legal to authorities for judicial reforms....................................42 2.4.1 Develop and implement advocacy strategy to get key Government, Parliament and Civil Society actors to push for reforms of judicial system and structure....................................................................45 CHAPTER THREE: REDUCED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND INJUSTICES...................................................................................................47 iv ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Engaging the Public in the Constitution Review Process - Promotes Citizens’ Right to Participation 3.1 Increased public awareness and understanding of human rights issues and obligations................................................................................................47 3.1.1 Strengthened Communication Strategies.................................................47 3.2 Increased public awareness and understanding of duty bearers’ human rights obligations............................................................................................52 3.2.1 Strengthened Capacity of Paralegals........................................................52 3.2.2 Strengthened Capacity of Human Rights Monitoring..............................56 3.2.3 Strengthening and establishment of human rights clubs in universities, colleges and secondary schools...........................................60 3.2.4 Increased production and dissemination of human rights materials to enhance advocacy for government adherence......................................62 3.2.5 Identified and Strengthened Networks.....................................................62 3.2.6 Increased Citizens’ Capacity to Participate in Democratic Processes......63 CHAPTER FOUR: GOVERNMENT AND COMPANIES COMPLIANCE TO REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS WITH REGARDS TO ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS INCREASED.....69 4.1 Increased awareness, appreciation and understanding of government and companies on the urgency and importance of compliance to regional and international standards with regards to economic, social and environmental rights.......................................................................................69 4.1.1 Develop and operationalize a system for monitoring of Government and business compliance on social and economic rights water, education, Health, Housing........................................................................................69 4.1.2 Increase engagement with central government and its institutions on their responsibilities on combating of corruption, good governance...............70 4.1.3 Increase Engagement with Local Government Authority for ..................... Accountability..........................................................................................70 4.1.4 Increase engagement on business companies to improve their compliance to labour, land and environmental rights and to take social responsibility + Tax engagement with business companies to improve their compliance to social, economic and environmental rights..............................................72 4.1.5 Increased pressure on government and its institutions to regulate and control business companies......................................................................74 v ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Engaging the Public in the Constitution Review Process - Promotes Citizens’ Right to Participation CHAPTER FIVE: A RELEVANT, SUSTAINABLE AND HIGH IMPACT LHR C.................................................................................................................................76 5.1 Transformed and well functioning LHRC governance, management, facilities, Human Resource and sustainable financial mobilization capacities/systems for delivering its core mission and support functions..........................................76 5.1.1 Improved Human Resource Management Capacity................................76 5.1.2 Strengthened Sound Governance Mechanisms........................................79 5.1.3 Improvement of Financial Management Systems and Fundraising ........... Strategies...................................................................................................81 5.1.4 Improving LHRC working environment..................................................83 5.1.5 The information, IT