MABADILIKO HUANZA TARATIBU SANJARI NA MAFANIKIO !!

Ni kweli huwezi kubadilika leo, lakini unaweza kufanya kitu leo kitakacho ibadili kesho yako. Haijalishi ulizaliwaje, hiyo ilikuwa ndiyo ya leo. Haijalishi ni nini kilitokea miaka mitano nyuma, miaka kumi iliyopita...huwezi kubadili miaka hiyo maana tayari ilishapita. Lakini unachoweza kufanya leo ni kijipanga upya tena, unaweza kufanya maamuzi mapya leo; maamuzi ambayo yataibadili kesho yako.

Kataa kuwa zezeta katika maendeleo, kataa maisha yako kuwekwa pembeni. Leo wacha nikujulishe kitu ninachokiamini katika kesho yako. Nina sababu ambayo inanifanya niamini katika kesho yako. Ninaamini kwamba kama ukiamini maneno haya na kuyafanyia kazi, lazima utapata mabadiliko katika maisha yako.

Hakuna mtu aliyeumbwa ili awe masikini; ndiyo unaweza ukawa umezaliwa katika familia masikini lakini ukweli ni kwamba hujazaliwa ili uwe masikini. Ndiyo unaweza ukawa umewekwa katka nchi masikini lakini ukweli ni kwamba hukuwekwa katika nchi hiyo ili uwe masikini.

Natamani uelewe hii maana ya neno "Utu uzima" utu uzima ni kuwajibika. Pindi unapokuwa mtu mzima huwezi kukwepa majukumu kwa maisha yako. Kubali kuwa muajibikaji katika uwezo ulio nao. Kuna wengi leo wanalilia msaada na kwa sababu hakuna majibu katika wito wao wa msaada hujisiki maumivu makali ya kupuuzwa katia mioyo yao. Hapana, usikubali kukata tamaa. Amini katika kile ambacho MUNGU Alikiumba. MUNGU Alikuumba wewe na wala MUNGU Hakukuumba uwe mtu wa kushindwa. Amini kwamba MUNGU Ana kusudi fulani maishani mwako. Kuna nafasi yako na wewe ya kuwa mtu aliyefanikiwa hapa duniani.

Kuna vitu vichache vya kuzingatia ili kufika mafanikio yako. Mojawapo ya mambo hayo ni muda. Tumia muda vizuri. Tumia muda wako katika kuleta maendeleo makubwa. Kama wewe ni mwimbaji...fanya uimbaji wako uwe wa kuigwa na wala si wa kuiga. Kumbuka huwa hakuna muda wa ziada hivyo tumia muda wako vizuri. Mafanikio humsubiri mtu anayeyatafuta. Mafanikio yapo kwa mtu asemaye "nitaamka mapema niende kazini" na huamka. Mafanikio yapo kwa mwanatunzi asemaye "Nitajisomea vitabu vya kutosha ili nifaulu".

Kwa hiyo usipoteze muda wako mwingi kuangalia runinga ama televisheni....usipoteze mda wako ukiangalia video za tamthiliya masaa 24. Panga kutazamwa mwenyewe kwenye runinga siku moja na wala usikubali kutazama wengine.

Utakuta mtu anasifia kazi nzuri zilizofanywa na wengine.....jipange nawe siku moja watu wasifie kazi nzuri uliyoifanya.

Haki za kumiliki kwa wanaume na wanawake

fahamu sheria inasema nini kuhusu haki ya kumiliki mali kwa wanaume na wanawake, hali ya kimataifa iko vip pamoja ma maazimio ya kimataifa, uhusiano baina ya haki ya kumiliki na haki za binadamu, yote haya kupitia Mywage Tanzania

Ni upi umiliki wa ardhi, nyumba na kampuni?

Umiliki wa mali yoyote inayo hamishika au isiyo hamishika unaelezewa katika haki za kumiliki. Haki za kumiliki ni  pamoja na haki za kumiliki mali, kujipatia ( kupitia kununua, zawadi au mirathi), kusimamia, kufuruhia na kuuza mali zinazoshikika na zisizoshikika pamoja na ardhi, nyumba, pesa, akaunti ya benki na mali nyingine kama mifugo na mazao.

Kwa nini haki za wanawake kumiliki mali ni muhimu? 
Kwa nchi kuendelea ni muhimu kwa wanawake kupewa haki za kumiliki. Haki za kumiliki mali kwa wanawake zinaboresha usawa wa kijinsia ambao unapelekea maendeleo. Ukosefu wa haki hizi hupelekea kutokuendelea kwa wanawake na kuzidi kuwadidimiza. Kutokana na Shirika la Kimataifa la makazi, kwa kila nchi 1 katika 4 zinazoendelea kuna sheria zinazo wakandamiza wanawake kumiliki mali. Kama ilivyoelezwa na Benki ya Dunia, nchi zenye sheria zisizo na usawa katika mirathi pia hazina haki  na usawa katika kumiliki mali. 
Hivyo haki ya kumiliki mali kwa wanawake ni muhimu kwani ndiyo inayompa mwanamke ulinzi wa kiuchumi, hadhi ya kijamii na kisheria na hivyo kuweza kudumu. Umiliki wa mali na ardhi unawawezesha wanawake na kuwasaidia kupata kipato na ulinzi wa kiuchumi. Bila ya haki za kumiliki, wanawake wanakosa usemi katika maamuzi ya nyumbani, na wanakosa haki zao katika kipindi cha matatizo kama vile talaka au kifo cha mume au hali yoyote yenye utata. Ukosefu wa haki za kumiliki pia unapelekea migogoro ya kifamilia na kijamii.

Ni zipi haki za wanawake kumiliki mali?

Chini ya sheria za kimataifa, wanawake kama ilivyo kwa wanume, wana haki sawa za kumiliki mali. Haki hizi ni kwa mali zinazohamishika na zisizohamishika ( au zinazoshikika na zisizoshikika). Ijapokua katika nchi nyingi za dunia, haki za kumiliki mali kwa wanawake zinazuiwa na mila, desturi, dini, tamaduni, tabia za kijamii na sheria.

Ni masuala gani yanahusishwa na haki za wanawake kumiliki mali?

Kama yalivyo masuala mengine ya haki za binadamu, haki za wanawake kumiliki mali zinahusishwa na matendo ya unyanyapaaji katika mirathi, kilimo, uongozaji wa kijinsia katika rasilimali za kiuchumi, haki ya kufanya kazi na migogoro ya kifamilia au unyanyasaji wa wanawake. 
Kuwapatia wananawake haki sawa za kumiliki mali kuna maanisha kupunguza vitisho vya unyanyapaaji, migogoro ya kifamilia na kijamii na ukiukwaji mwingine wa haki za binadamu. Pia ina mchango chanya katika kuhusisha wanawake katika siasa na kuwawezesha wanawake kwa ujumla.

Ni zipi kanuni za kimataifa juu ya wanawake kumiliki mali?

Sheria za kimataifa za haki za binadamu zinashurutisha ulinzi sawa katika haki ya kumiliki mali kwa wanaume na wanawake. Haki za kumiliki ni haki za binadamu. Haki za wanawake kumiliki mali ikiwa ni pamoja na ardhi ni haki za binadamu zisizowezwa kukiukwa na pia zinahusishwa na kiwango cha maisha chenye kujitosheleza, haki ya kupata makazi na uhuru wa kutokufukuzwa katika makazi. Haki hizi zinasimamiwa na vyombo vifuatavyo vya kimataifa.

International Instruments/Convention	Relevant Article	Article Text
Azimio la pamoja juu ya haki za binadamu	17	Kila mtu ana haki ya kumiliki mali mwenyewe ama kwa pamoja na wengine.  Si sawa kwa mtu yeyote kunyang’anywa mali yake
Maazimio ya kuondoa aina zote za ubaguzi dhidi ya wanawake	13-16	Serikali kuhakikisha kua wanawake na wanaume wanapata haki sawa katika mafao ya familia, kupitia upya masuala ya ardhi ikiwa ni pamoja na kuhamisha makazi, wanafurahia  kiwango cha maisha chenye kujitosheleza hususani yenye kuendana na makazi, kua na haki sawa katika kusaini mikataba na kusimamia mali, kua na haki sawa kwa wanandoa katika kumiliki, kujipatia/kutafuta, kusimamia, kufurahia na kuuza au kugawa mali bure ama kwa kuzingatia thamani fulani
Maazimio yote ya kimataifa juu ya haki za kiuchumi, kijamii na kiutamaduni na yale ya haki za kiraia na kisiasa yanashurutisha kutokuepo kwa ubaguzi wowote katika misingi ya kumiliki mali.

Jukwaa la makubaliano kwa vitendo la Beijing ( lililotangazwa mwaka 1995) limeshurutisha kwamba haki za wanawake kurithi na kumiliki ardhi na mali  zitambulike na serikali iweke sheria na kupitia mikakati mipya ili kuondoa utofauti. Haki za wanawake kumiliki mali pia zimeongelewa katika Malengo ya maendeleo ya Milenia, hasahasa goli la 11 linalozungumzia kuondoa umasikini uliokithiri na goli la 3 linalozungumzia usawa wa kijinsia. Kufikia malengo haya kunategemeana sana na uzingatiaji wa  haki za wanawake kumiliki mali.

Ni vitu gani vinapelekea kuvunjika kwa haki za wanawake kumiliki mali?

Sababu kuu hasa zinazopeleka haya ni kuwapo na sheria za kibaguzi, mila na desturi mbovu, mtizamo hasi juu ya haki ya wanawake kumiliki mali, utofauti wa mamlaka na mfumo mbovu wa mahakama. Wanawake wanaopigania haki zao huitwa wenye tamaa.

Ni yepi matokeo ya ukiukwaji wa haki za wanawake kumiliki mali?
Ukiukwaji wa haki hizi hupelekea wanawake kua wategemezi kwa wanaume. Wanawake hubakia masikini na hukosa fursa sawa na wanaume. Hali hii huwafanya waishi maisha duni na kila mara katika hatari ya kunyanyaswa na wazazi na mashemeji. Matokeo ya vitendo hivi ni nchi kushindwa kuendelea.

Ni zipi faida za haki za wanawake kumiliki mali? 
Haki za kumiliki zinajumuisha faida nyingi kwa wanawake na familia zao kwa kuongeza uwezo wao wa kujadiliana juu ya bei au malipo,ulinzi wa kijamii na kujitawala kiuchumi. Haki za wanawake kumiliki mali zinaongeza uwezo wao katika majadiliano ndani na nje ya nyumba na kuonekana viongozi.

Katika nchi zinazoendelea wazazi hutegemea watoto wao. Watoto huwajali wazazi wao kama wazazi wataendelea kua na nguvu na mali zao zinazozalisha na wanafurahia haki za kumiliki. Haki za kumiliki huwapa wanawake uwezo wa kiuchumi ikiwa wanaishi na wazazi wao au waume zao. Kama watakosa haki hizi, wanawake watabaki wategemezi na kazi zao za nyumbani na kazi nyingine hazitoonekana na wala kusahauliwa.

Maazimio yote ya kimataifa juu ya haki za kiuchumi, kijamii na kiutamaduni na yale ya haki za kiraia na kisiasa yanashurutisha kutokuepo kwa ubaguzi wowote katika misingi ya kumiliki mali kwa mtu.

Jamii ipewe kisomo kuondokana na Tatizo la Unyanyasaji wa kijinsia nchini Tanzania

JITIHADA za kutosha zinahitajika katika jamii ili kuhakikisha vitendo vya ukatili wa kijinsia vinakomeshwa badala ya kuwaachia jukumu hilo wanasiasa pekee na baadhi ya makundi katika Jamii.

Kwa mujibu wa ripoti mbalimbali zilizowahi kutolewa katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, kumekuwapo na mmomonyoko mkubwa wa maadili nchini, jambo ambalo linachangia kasi kubwa ya vitendo vya ukatili wa kijinsia dhidi ya wanawake na watoto katika sehemu zote za Tanzania kwa maana ya Bara na Visiwani.

Matukio mengi ya ukatili wa kijinsia ambayo yamekuwa yakiwaathiri wanawake na watoto nchini yahahusu ubakaji, ulawiti, vipigo kwa wanawake, tohara za wanawake na wasichana, ndoa za utotoni na mimba za utotoni.

Nyingine ni kuwanyima fursa za elimu watoto wa kike, kuwazuia wanawake kurithi mali, mirathi, talaka, mauaji ya watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi na wanaume kutelekeza familia.

Kwa miaka mingi sasa, wanawake wamekuwa wakiiomba Serikali kupigania haki zao kupitia Wizara ya Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia na Watoto kuwachukulia hatua za kisheria wanaojihusisha na ukatili wa kijinsia tokana na matukio hayo kukithiri katika jamii.

Jamii inashuhudia vitendo vya ukatili wa kijinsia vikiongezeka siku hadi siku huku kundi linaloathirika zaidi ikiwa ni watoto na wanawake.

Imefika wakati sasa jamii isichoke kutoa msaada wa kisheria kwa waathirika wa ukatili wa kijinsia. Vilevile, maonyesho ya programu mbalimbali za asasi zinazolenga kutokomeza ukatili wa kijinsia na kutoa mada mbalimbali zinazohusiana na ukatili huo ni muhimu ili kutokomeza kabisa tatizo hilo.

Aidha, jamii nzima inatakiwa kuelimishwa kwamba athari dhidi ya mwanamke ni kitendo hasi kutokana na mwanamke kuwa tegemeo kubwa katika jamii na zaidi katika ngazi ya familia.

Uchunguzi wa SMGEO katika maeneo tofauti nchini na Visiwani, umebaini kuwa tatizo la udhalilishaji wa kijinsia, kwa kiasi kikubwa umepelekea waliotendewa ukatili kupata matatizo ya kiafya, kijamii, kiuchumi na kukwazwa kimaendeleo na kukosa sehemu ya kuelekea.

Katika uchunguzi huo, imebainika kwamba hatua ya mijadala iliyowahi kushika kasina kuibua mijadala mizito nchini, imechangia kutoa mwanga kwa wananchi wengi na kuibua vitendo vya ukatili wa kijinsia wakati wote wanapokutana na matatizo kama hayo inagawa baadhi yao wamekuwa wakitumia nafasi hiyo kudhalilisa wanawake na watoto.

Hata hivyo, jinsi vyombo vya habari vinavyoripoti matukio hayo imechangia kwa kiasi kikubwa kuangaliwa kwa pande zote za Shilingi ili kuwasikiliza walalamikaji na walalamikiwa kwa kuwa hizo ni tuhuma ambazo zinahitajika kufanyiwa maamuzi na Mahakama.

Baadhi ya wananchi waliozungumza na timu ya waandishi wetu Jijini Dar es Salaam, walisema Serikali zote ziweze kusikiliza kilio cha jamii kuhusiana na kasi kubwa ya matukio ya ukatili na kuchukua hatua kwa kuhakikisha watuhumiwa wanakamatwa na kufikishwa mahakamani.

Mmoja wa wananchi hao aliyejitambulisha kwa jina la Sophia Gipson, amesema katika kuhakikisha vitendo vya ukatili vinatokomezwa katika jamii, kuna umuhimu wa kushiriki kikamilifu kwa kuwaweka wazi wahusika na kuwafikisha katika vyombo vya sheria.

“Bado kuna wanawake na wasichana ambao wanaamini wameumbwa kwa ajili ya kufanya shughuli za nyumbani pamoja na kumhudumia mume na watoto na ndiyo hao ambao wanashindwa hata kutoa taarifa kuhusiana na vitendo vya ukatili wanavyofanyiwa”alieleza Sophia.

Katika hatua nyingine Serikali imetakiwa kupitia upya na kuifanyia marekebisho Sheria ya Ndoa ya mwaka 1971 ambayo inaonekana kutoa mwanya kwa wazazi kuwaozesha mabinti zao kuanzia umri wa miaka 14.

Bila shaka maadhimisho hayo yatakwenda sambamba na maadamano makubwa ambayo yatakuwa yanaratibiwa na mashirika mbalimbali ya wanaharakati nchini ambayo yamekuwa mstari wa mbele katika kupinga ukatili dhidi ya kijinsia hususani kwa watoto na wanawake.

Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni baadhi ya mashirika yakiwemo, Shirika la Wanawake katika Sheria na Maendeleo (WiLADF), Mtanadao wa Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP), Shirika la jinsia (SMGEO)Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari Wanawake Tanzania (Tamwa), Chama cha Wanasheria wa Tanzania (Tawla), Chama cha Wanasheria Zanzibar (Zafela), Kituo cha Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (LHRC) na mengine yamekuwa mstari wa mbele kupinga ukatili na ni miongoni mwa wanaoratibu maandamano hayo.

Wanawake wanaweza wakiandaliwa mazingira-TGNP

 Baadhi ya wanafunzi wa Shule ya Sekondari Loyola ya jijini Dar es Salaam wakifuatilia mada mbalimbali ndani ya maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Shule ya Sekondari Loyola.

 Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP), Bi. Lilian Liundi akizungumza na wanahabari kwenye maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Shule ya Sekondari Loyola.

Baadhi ya wanafunzi wa Shule ya Sekondari Loyola wakionesha ubunifu wa mavazi katika maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Shuleni hapo.

 Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP), Bi. Lilian Liundi akizungumza na wanahabari kwenye maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Shule ya Sekondari Loyola.

Baadhi ya wanafunzi wa Shule ya Sekondari Loyola wakionesha ubunifu wa mavazi katika maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Shuleni hapo.

 Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP), Bi. Lilian Liundi akizungumza kwenye maadhimisho ya Siku ya Wanawake Shule ya Sekondari Loyola ya jijini Dar es Salaam leo.

KAIMU Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP), Bi. Lilian Liundi amesema wanawake wanaweza kuwa viongozi wazuri na mfano wa kuigwa katika maeneo mbalimbali endapo watajengewa mazingira na kuandaliwa mapema tangu wawapo shuleni.

Bi. Liundi ambaye pia ni Mkuu wa Idara ya Habari na Mawasiliano ya TGNP ametoa changamoto hiyo leo katika Shule ya Sekondari ya Loyola ya jijini Dar es Salaam alipokuwa mgeni rasmi katika maadhimisho ya siku ya mwanamke shuleni hapo.

Akizungumza na umati wa wanafunzi wasichana wa shule hiyo na wageni anuai waalikwa, alisema tafiti nyingi zilizofanywa zinaonesha kuwa wasichana wanapoandaliwa mazingira mazuri ya elimu wanafanya vizuri ukilinganisha na wavulana.

Aidha aliongeza kuwa kwa sasa zipo shule zinazochukua wasichana pekee ambazo zimekuwa zikifanya vizuri zaidi jambo ambalo linaonesha wazi mazingira mazuri yakijengwa jamii hii inaweza kuinuka na kuwa mfano mzuri.

Alisema kwa sasa vishawishi na changamoto anuai zilizopo katika shule nyingi ndio kikwazo kwa wanafunzi wa kike kufanya vizuri, hali ambayo ikifanyiwa kazi kiufasaha mabadiliko kimafanikio kwa kundi hilo yanaweza kutokea.

Hata hivyo alisema tafsiri iliyojengeka ya kwamba wanafunzi wa kike wanaogopa masomo ya sayansi si sahihi kiuhalisia, kwani mazingira ambayo wanafunzi hawa wanakumbana nayo ndio kikwanzo katika mafanikio yao kimasomo.

“Mfano shule nyingi za kata ni za kutwa wanafunzi hasa wasichana wanakaa mbali na shule, wanalazimika kutembea umbali mrefu kwenda na kurudi shuleni…wanakumbana na changamoto nyingi njiani hivyo wanajikuta wanashindwa kufanya vizuri au kukatishwa kabisa masomo yao,” alisema Bi. Liundi.

Aliongeza kuwa eneo kama hili, vyombo husika vikiangalia sheria na sera zinazojenga mazingira mazuri kwa makundi yote, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuhakikisha rasilimali zilizopo zinatumika vizuri wasichana wanaweza kuingia katika ushindani kwa fursa zilizopo.

Kwa upande wake mwanafunzi Grace Ntambi wa kidato cha tano wa shule hiyo aliiomba serikali kuendelea kutoa elimu kwa mikoa ambayo bado inaendeleza mila potofu za kumbagua mtoto wa kike ikiwa ni pamoja na kuelemea kwenye mfumo dume, ili kuangamiza vitendo hivyo.

“Na hii ianzie pia katika ngazi za familia kuna kila sababu ya kuondokana na mila potofu za kwamba mtoto wa kike hana haki ya kupata elimu kama ilivyo kwa mtoto wa kiume…tuwatie moyo wasichana kwani wanaweza,” alisema mwanafunzi huyo.

Katika hafla hiyo pia TGNP ilipata fursa ya kutoa mada mbalimbali za masuala ya wanafunzi kujitambua kwa hatua anuai ikiwa ni pamoja na kutoa ushuhuda ya kwamba wanawake wanaweza wakiamua kufanya hivyo kwa kila hatua wanayopiga.

Tanzania can hold its head high as a champion for promoting gender equality – European Union

Since the groundbreaking Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, the international community has established clear, legal norms on the prohibition of discrimination and the active promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment, and made a firm commitment to monitor their implementation.

The Government of Tanzania can hold its head high as a champion for promoting gender equality, through its high rate of ratification of gender sensitive international Treaties and the important steps it has taken to implement its gender commitments, but there is much still to be done.

Despite substantial progress over the last few decades, women and girls still constitute a vulnerable part of Tanzanian society. As the principal victims of discrimination and violence, women have fewer opportunities of access to education, fewer employment opportunities, less access to labour and financial markets than their male counterparts.

Women are more often illiterate, have little or no access to income generation opportunities, and have minimal opportunities for participation in public leadership positions.

Their key assets, such as cash and land, are still largely controlled by their male relatives. Social justice and poverty alleviation are still gender unequal matters.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights are still neglected and the provision of Maternal Health Care services highly inadequate. Despite increasing Government interventions, Tanzania's maternal mortality ratio remains one of the worst in the world.

Gender-based violence, most notably domestic violence and Female Genital Mutilation, remains a widespread dramatic phenomenon that has serious negative effects on the lives and health of women and girls, as well as significant socio-economic consequences.

On the eve of the International Women's Day, the European Union (EU) Heads of Missions in Tanzania re-state their highest commitment to the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment in Tanzania.

The EU has a long-standing commitment to promote gender equality. International Women’s Day (IWD) was initiated 100 years ago in four European countries and the early commitment is reflected in the EU's ongoing support in this area.

Last year, the EU undertook important efforts to further reinforce its policy notably through the adoption of an EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development for the period 2010-2015 (GEWE).

The European Union Delegation and Member States in Tanzania took this a step further and agreed on joint efforts, with measurable targets and indicators, to address gender inequalities at country-level.

Their strong commitment is reflected in the EU Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) for Tanzania for the period 2010-2012 which was officially launched by the Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children on occasion of the 2010 IWD.

This Plan was a result of joint efforts by the EU to strengthen and coordinate action on gender issues at country-level. The EU Action Plan is the first of its kind and a true benchmark in addressing gender issues in EU development cooperation.

Together the EU members agreed to strengthen and coordinate action on gender issues, to support the Government of Tanzania in its efforts to implement its gender commitments as well as to support the action of women's groups and networks in their efforts for greater gender equality and women empowerment.

At the policy level, Gender issues have been systematically raised in dialogue between EU member states in Tanzania. Mechanisms have been established to ensure that the EU GEWE is mainstreamed in all EU funded Development cooperation projects and programmes.

Mainstreaming alone does not suffice, and specific actions have been identified to catalyze the reduction of gender inequality, prepare the conditions for effective mainstreaming and redress situations where women and girls are particularly disadvantaged.

Cooperation and support to the Government of Tanzania as well as to the women's groups and networks in their fight for greater gender equality has greatly improved, and financial and human resources substantially increased.

European Union members' support to women's groups and networks in their fight for greater gender equality in Tanzania has risen to more than 10 million Euros (21 trillion Tanzanian shillings) and is projected to increase further.

Thanks to the efforts made by our implementing partners, the impact is already visible in critical areas such as access and participation of women and girls in education and training; promotion of women's entrepreneurship and equal access to formal employment, decent work and financial services; sexual, reproductive and maternal health; access to justice and fight against all forms of violence and discrimination against women, notably gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and land rights.

On the eve of the International Women Day, the Head of the European Union Delegation in Tanzania, Ambassador Tim Clarke, declared his optimism about the progress made by the country and the EU:

He said: "Sustainable development, peace and security cannot be achieved without the full participation of women. Discrimination against women undermines the development of an entire country. Violence against women has direct negative consequences on women's access to education, jobs and on to their participation in the public life. The impact of the marginalisation of women runs counter the empowerment of their children and communities and ultimately the development of the whole nation.

The Government of Tanzania is showing true commitment to gender equity and through the EU Gender Action Plan for Tanzania, the EU has lifted gender mainstreaming from rhetoric to effective policy-making.

We believe we have made significant advances during the last year, in terms of: raising political awareness; raising the EU's profile on Gender issues; identifying key strategic issues that we can address; forging a real alliance between EU Member States, the Government, other International players, and NGOs on Gender priorities; mobilising additional financial resources for both the Government and NGOs on Gender empowerment; and identified training needs for our own staff.

On this day of celebration I wish to laud on behalf of all members of the European Union the dedication and endeavors of our many implementing partners that are making a difference for the people of Tanzania.

We truly commend the commitments to gender equity made by the Tanzanian authorities. Their support to women empowerment is a clear sign of leadership.

I also wish to address a special word of thanks to our partner NGOs and CBOs which strive very day to defend and promote the rights and conditions of women and girls in Tanzania.

I profoundly believe that if all together we can help pull Tanzanian women out of poverty, give them respect, honour their rights, give them dignity, provide them with economic incentives, they can be the real drivers for change and prosperity".

Distinguish between Equity and Equality

The terms equity and equality are sometimes used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion because while these concepts are related, there are also important distinctions between them.

Equity, as we have seen, involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equality, in contrast, aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives. Like equity, equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same things.

Let’s think for a moment about runners sprinting around an oval track during a competition.

The concept of equality would have us treat the runners in exactly the same way, ensuring that they all start at the same place on the track. On the surface, this seems fair.

But we know that runners in the inside lanes have a distinct advantage over runners in the outer lanes because the distance they have to travel is shorter. As a result, equality – starting at the same place – doesn’t result in fairness.

The concept of equity, in contrast, would lead us to stagger the starting positions of the runners in order to offset the disadvantages facing those in the outer lanes. In this case, different or tailored treatment is a surer path to fairness and justice than the same treatment.

The same distinction between equity and equality can be seen when it comes to health and care. For example, Canada’s publicly-funded health care system is based on the concept of equality. It is designed to ensure that everyone has the same access to health care providers and services regardless of their ability to pay for care. Again, this seems fair. But it only goes so far in promoting justice because it ignores other factors – such as language, place of residence, sexual orientation and gender – that can also act as barriers to care.

At the same time, ensuring the same access to care for everyone assumes that everyone has similar health status and similar health care needs. We know this is not the case. Some people, like the runners in the outside lanes of the track, live with social, political and economic disadvantages that contribute to poor health. For instance, women and men, boys and girls who live in poverty are frequently less healthy than those with more resources. As a result, they may need additional services and programs – rather than just the standard ones – to offset the impact of substandard housing, limited access to fresh, nutritious foods, and exposure to unsafe environments. This is equity: making sure that have what they need to achieve and maintain health and well-being.

Once everyone enjoys a similar level of health and well-being, we can focus on preserving fairness by giving everyone the same things: this is equality. As the Pan-American Health Organization puts it, equity is the means, equality is the outcome.

Understanding the differences between equity and equality helps us to recognize and respond to differences in health and well-being that are unfair, avoidable and changeable.

If women want equality, we need to start including men in the conversation !!!

Juggling parenthood with a career should be as much a man's problem as it is a woman's

Vivienne Durham, retiring head of Francis Holland school, said she is not a feminist Photo: Rex

Another week, another tranche of news stories about the sacrifices we women must make in the pursuit of some vague sense of happiness, and the endless obstacles in our way. First there was an interview with Vivienne Durham, the retiring headmistress at Francis Holland, an all-girls school that is clearly built on all-male money. “I’m sorry, I’m not a feminist,” she told Absolutely Education magazine. “I believe there is a glass ceiling - if we tell them there isn’t one, we are telling them a lie.”

Next came a survey by the British Pregnancy Advisory Board.Apparently, women aren’t 'sleepwalking’ into infertility - actually, the main reasons for putting off motherhood are a lack of financial stability, a lack of a suitable partner, and finally, the lack of a home. Then there were the quotes from Masterchef presenter Monica Galetti, who said that too many women were not prepared to put a career in the kitchen ahead of a life at home in one.

“That’s it,” she announced.”There’s no BS about it - the truth is you’ve got to put it first to do well. I’ve seen many amazing chefs, girls, come into the kitchen and then give it up to be with their boyfriend. Would he do that for her?” Galetti at least acknowledges that there is another sex out there.

Otherwise, in all the conversations about the struggles women must endure while trying to juggle a personal life with a professional one, men are barely mentioned. If a visitor from outer space was to chance upon the average report or survey about parenthood, they would be forgiven for thinking that Earthlings reproduced asexually. This is kind of weird. How can we hope to be equal to men if we are not even including them in the conversation?

Chef Monica Galetti said too many women put their life at home ahead of their career in the kitchen.

Non-feminist Mrs Durham shows that all the expensive education in the world won’t change the widely held belief that childcare is woman’s work. Does the headmaster of Eton feel the need to tell his pupils that when they grow up, they will have tough choices to make when it comes to fatherhood?

Of course not. But it would be good if he did. It would be nice if we started to share the burden of responsibility that comes with parenting; if we woke up and realised that while child-bearing is very much a woman’s business, child-rearing needn’t always be. (Please don’t throw the breastfeeding argument at me, given that only a fifth of mothers in the UK are still using this method at six months).

There will never be proper equality between the sexes until parenting is seen as an equal responsibility - and I mean properly equal, to the point that it is acceptable for men to leave the office to attend to sick children, and not just women. (Not everyone will choose to become parents, I do understand that, but you are still discriminated against in the work place for your reproductive organs, even if you don’t actually use them).

Most experts are united in their agreement that the gender pay gap is because it is predominantly women who take time off work when a baby is born. Now that shared parental leave is in place in this country, we can actually take steps to change that. But just over six months on from its introduction here, there has been no significant uptake from men; it is still not seen as the thing to do.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia with Richard Branson.  Photo: Reuters

This is not entirely the fault of the male of the species. For a start, women have to be willing to actually let their other halves take said leave. But for many mothers, the thought of splitting the leave 50/50 is anathema. They want bonding time with baby without their career prospects being harmed.

I get that. In an ideal world, this would happen. But we do not live in an ideal world - and neither, incidentally, do the men who go back to work after two weeks and spend the rest of their lives watching their child run to mummy rather than daddy because only mummy has always been there for them.

Does this set-up benefit anyone? Just think how devoid of resentment and simmering hatred relationships would be if everyone was expected to work the same amount of hours and do the same amount of childcare! (As a side note, I remember a couple appearing on Woman’s Hour years ago, who had decided, 'as a commitment to the relationship’, that they would divide out childcare equally. They sounded really very happy. And possibly like they were having lots of sex - with each other, even!).

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, the chief executive of Virgin Money, has announced this week that in a government-backed report to be released ahead of next year’s Budget, she plans to recommend that city bonuses are linked to gender balance targets.

I hope these include targets to let men take more paternity leave. (The city does not lead by example on much, but on this issue they could.) And I hope that eventually, boys are encouraged to plan for parenthood as much as their female counterparts. Only then will the battle have been won.

Why do we need gender equality?

Jill Uchiyama, creator of Legacy films

The question, "why do we need gender equality?" could have been asked anywhere, at any time in history. Whenever we speak of this subject, of gender equality, we must kowtow to the past, tip our hats, scuffle a shoe. 

There are many who have already answered this question with their entire lives, with blood. There are women and men who have died for this question. Some are still in our presence, some have been documented on film, in Wikipedia, on Quora.  Have we forgotten them? Is it that soon to forget or are we just so comfortable now that asking this question is like a spinning game?

The question has been answered, but the bottle continues to spin and spin. As if this is the world's biggest contemplation- still hanging around for those who have yet to decide whether freedom, justice, and rights are good to be shared. 

Go back and read your history, man- or woman. That will tell you why. Or if not, seek out an author as of late, sit down, and read her story. Find out about women's history, specifically, and learn the names of the countless women that never got credit. That were glossed over in school or left absent from the pages.

I myself was 38 years old and had never heard of Alice Paul. Nor did any of the women in the group I was part of- a women's group, no less. Some of those women went to MIT and Harvard. None of us had heard of Alice Paul.

Get to know that history, women, men. Why? So that you may not be ignorant of how it happened. Read and research what you never learned, were never taught. Why is this important? Because equality demands more intelligence. Equality demands that we stop believing one side of a story- that we are mature enough, savvy enough to embrace more.

What's more..

Until we can really embrace equality, which includes understanding history as it really happened, we will never be ready for what is next nor will we be free enough to set sail on unknown waters, into forbidden territory.  We will not be able to find out what comes after gender equality, after patriarchy? After feminism? What potentials lie beyond these concepts that keep us teeter tottering between history that is laden with only men's names- and a future that includes the world? How much more time do we need to understand what we are holding back by clinging on to old stories. Is it not enough time to be convinced that a young black girl born in rural Mississippi can grow up and become a billionaire? Or that a teenager girl from Pakistan can break free of oppression and lead a revolt in her own words through her story?

Gender equality must be embraced if we are to evolve culture and ourselves. It is not just a nice idea about a few women who can open their own doors. It is about cultural revolution. Imagine the possibilities in that- and how many people will begin to show up once this someday, some way, becomes the norm? Imagine what will happen when we stop spinning the question, wondering if it's the right movement forward.