A/HRC/19/2
the price of brides and polygamy was another area rejected on the basis of the enjoyment of
cultural and religious rights.
377. Since the universal periodic review held in October 2011, the United Republic of
Tanzania has considered the substance of each and every one of the deferred
recommendations with the active participation of the relevant stakeholders from both within
and outside the Government. The views and comments arising from a stakeholder’s
workshop organized in December 2011 were considered and incorporated into the
addendum on views on conclusions and or recommendations, voluntary commitments and
replies submitted to the Human Rights Council at its nineteenth session.
378. The United Republic of Tanzania had accepted a total of 107 recommendations. It
agreed in part with the recommendations on considering the ratification of other core
international human rights instruments. While the United Republic of Tanzania may not be
a party to some treaties, it noted that, in practice, its policies were in most cases, already
fully or largely in compliance with their provisions. The United Republic of Tanzania
would continue to study the implications of acceding to other major human rights treaties. It
had informed the Human Rights Council of its intention to consider accession to the
International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, among other instruments. Some treaties were at the stage of
cabinet approval.
379. With regard to issuing or extending an open invitation for special procedures, the
United Republic of Tanzania noted that it had regularly received mandate holders and
would continue to work with such mechanisms of the Human Rights Council. Requests for
visits would be considered positively on a case-by-case basis. The Government was also
working with other mechanisms; for example, a country review mission team of the African
Peer Review Mechanism was currently in the country to review good governance issues.
Likewise, in September 2011, the United Republic of Tanzania had pledged to join the
Open Government Partnership initiative that aims to make Government business more open
to its citizens, combat corruption and build greater trust.
380. With regard to the abolition of the death penalty and formalizing the de facto
moratorium as a step towards its complete abolition, the United Republic of Tanzania
categorically stated that this recommendation did not enjoy its support, as already
mentioned in its national report and the statement delivered in October 2011. The
Government would, in collaboration with other stakeholders, continue to inform the public
on the general international trends with regard to the death penalty. On the establishment of
a de jure moratorium on the death penalty, internal consultations and public opinion should
be given the highest consideration. Most of these contentious issues would be deliberated
upon in the forthcoming constitutional review process.
381. A number of measures had been taken by the Government in collaboration with civil
society to address the issue of gender-based violence. The Constitution prohibited
discrimination on the basis of, among other things, sex and gender. The Penal Code and the
Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act criminalized various forms of gender and sexualbased violence, including rape, sexual assault and harassment, sex work and trafficking.
While the recommendation made in this regard enjoyed the State’s support in part, the
United Republic of Tanzania did not accept any importation of the concept of marital rape
embedded therein. Because of diverse opinions and issues, the question of introducing
marital rape for married couples required a wider and culturally sensitive debate.
382. The United Republic of Tanzania stated that corporal punishment for persons
convicted of certain offences was provided for by law under the Corporal Punishment Act
and its regulations, as well as by the Prisons Act. This punishment was not applicable to
GE.13-14768
189
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents