gisw13_chapters

tanzaniaInnovative use of mobile phones for women’s empowerment in TanzaniaCollaboration on International ICT Policy in Eastand Southern Africa (CIPESA)Lillian Nalwogawww.cipesa.orgIntroductionWomen’s development has been placed at the coreof development in Tanzania, at least in theory. It isreported that women, especially in rural areas, provide80% of the labour force and contribute 60%to food production. 1 Women are reported to be themain producers of cash crops as well. It has alsobeen observed that gender patterns in Tanzania arechanging and women are now venturing into moremarket-oriented activities.However, despite these reported successes, genderinequality still exists in Tanzania. Women still facechallenges in economic development and continue tobe marginalised. For instance, women are not allowedto own property, are more likely than men to be poorand illiterate, are subjected to gender-based violence,have no say in their reproductive rights, and encounterjob discrimination. Traditional or Islamic customs thatdiscriminate against women still prevail in family law.The 2009 Gender-related Development Index 2 rankedthe country 125th out of the 155 countries measured,while the 2008 Gender Empowerment Measure put itat 48th out of 108 countries. Further, women’s rightsare constitutionally guaranteed but not uniformlyprotected. Human rights groups have sought laws tobar forced marriages, which are most common amongTanzania’s coastal peoples.In this context, there has been an increase inwomen embracing technology to aid their empowermentdrive. Information and communicationstechnologies (ICTs), especially the internet and mobiletelephones, are being used to provide servicesespecially in health, as well as to boost entrepreneurialskills for Tanzanian women.Policy and political backgroundThe 1977 Constitution of the United Republic ofTanzania (Articles 12 and 13) guarantees equalitybetween men and women and supports women’s1 www.tanzania.go.tz/gender.html2 hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Table_J.pdffull participation in social, economic and politicallife. Gender equality and women’s empowermentis also recognised in the country’s National PovertyReduction Strategies (MKUKUTA II 3 on themainland and MKUZA II in Zanzibar) 4 under thegoals on governance, education and health. Forinstance, the MKUKUTA II strategy streamlinesstrategies on improving the quality of life and socialwell-being, focusing on the poorest and mostvulnerable groups, including women. On the otherhand, among its goals concerning good governanceand national unity, the MKUZA II strategy calls for“empowering and increasing representation ofwomen in policy and decision making.”Tanzania has signed international commitmentsto women’s rights, such as the United NationsConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminationagainst Women (1979); the Conventionon the Rights of the Child (1989); the Conventionon the Political Rights of Women (1952); the BeijingDeclaration and Platform for Action (1995) onwomen’s economic and political empowerment,education and training; the Cairo Declaration onPopulation and Development (1994); the MillenniumDeclaration and Development Goals (MDGs),including MDG 3 on gender equality and women’sempowerment; the Universal Declaration on Democracy(1997); United Nations Security CouncilResolution 1325 (2000) and Resolution 1820 (2006)on gender equality, protection and participationof women in conflict resolution, peacemaking andstate building.The government has passed several laws in favourof women, such as the Sexual Offences SpecialProvisions Act of 1998, which protects women, girlsand children from sexual harassment and abuse;and the Land Law Act of 1999 and Village Land Act of1999, which repeal and replace previous legislationon land matters, enabling women to enjoy equalrights with men in access, ownership and controlof land. Nonetheless, women’s civil rights are limitedby the existence of a dual legal system whichincludes both statutory and religious and customarylaws. In addition, the 1971 Marriage Act includesprovisions in respect to women’s property and3 www.povertymonitoring.go.tz/Mkukuta/Mkukuta%20English.pdf4 zanzibar.go.tz/admin/uploads/MKUZA%20II%20Final.pdf222 / Global Information Society Watch