HelpAge International has taken its call for urgent action on older women’s rights in Tanzania to the Committee that monitors the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The 41st session of the Committee is currently taking place in New York. HelpAge International’s rights policy adviser, Bridget Sleap, made an oral statement yesterday, highlighting violations of older women’s rights in Tanzania.

The statement ended with key recommendations from HelpAge International’s written submission to the Committee. The submission was endorsed by 12 Tanzanian organisations working on older women’s rights. It urges government action in three areas:

• gender-based violence against older women
• rights to property and inheritance
• access to healthcare for older women caring for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Lower social status of widows

Low levels of literacy among older women mean that many are unaware of their legal entitlements. HelpAge International has been working with partners in Tanzania for several years to promote older women’s rights.

Many older women live alone after the death of their spouse. As widows they have considerably lower status in Tanzanian society than married women. Many are denied the right to inherit common assets such as a house or land, condemning them to live in poverty.

In its submission to the Committee, HelpAge International urges the Tanzanian Government to introduce non-discriminatory inheritance law and legislation to criminalise the seizure of property on the death of a spouse. Ensuring older women’s right to inheritance will give them greater economic security in old age.

In addition, HelpAge International’s submission calls for action to address violence related to witchcraft accusations against older women. Healthcare policies which respond to the specific needs of older women, many of whom care for people living with HIV and AIDS, are also called for. 

Committee’s response

The Committee will produce a report at the end of July, based on both written and oral evidence from NGOs and the Tanzanian Government delegation. The report will include formal recommendations to the Tanzanian government on how it can better realise women’s rights.

Bridget Sleap, Rights Policy Adviser at HelpAge International, says:

“This meeting is an important opportunity to raise the issue of older women’s rights in Tanzania. It enables us to input into recommendations which can help the Government improve its policies and deliver dignity and security for older women.

“We hope our submission will be well received by the Committee, and that they will include efforts to tackle discrimination against older women in recommendations to the Tanzanian Government.”

The Committee meets regularly to assess implementation of CEDAW in selected countries which have ratified the convention. At this session, Tanzania is one of several countries presenting evidence on their progress towards ending discrimination against women.

Download HelpAge International's oral statement