This project will train 50 female Community Paralegals to provide information and practical assistance to others related to their legal and human right to own and inherit property and live free from all forms of harm and abuse.
Land ownership, control and denial of inheritance hinders Tanzanian women's access to equally, non-discrimination and economic participation. Under customary law, access to land is passed through the male line and women are vulnerable to extreme violence and abuse to force them off their land when their connection with that male relative is lost through death, marriage breakup or desertion. Women generally have limited information about their human rights and legal aid is scarce.
Community Paralegals attend ten week training including about property rights (title deeds, mortgages, wills, women's right to own property under customary versus statutory law, court procedures, how to buy land); the legal and customary treatment of marriage and divorce; labour laws and the rights of the child. Community Paralegals are taught how to support others in their community with practical assistance, information, mediation and referral.
50 women will acquire information with which to protect themselves, their neighbours and their community from poverty by enabling women to acquire and retain property and mothers to protect their daughters' right to education and protection from early and forced marriage.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
