CHRAGG STATEMENT ON IPS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

- Commission for Human Rights & Good Governance Plot No. 8, Luthuli Street P.O Box 2643, DAR ES SALAAM Tel.: +255 22 2135747...

-	Commission for Human Rights & Good Governance Plot No. 8, Luthuli Street P.O Box 2643, DAR ES SALAAM Tel.: +255 22 2135747/8; 2137125; 2135222 Fax: +255 22 2111281 E-mail: chragg@chragg.go.tz Website: www.chragg.go.tz

September 13, 2017

PRESS RELEASE

Statement by CHRAGG at the occasion of commemorating 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, 13th September, 2017

Today the 13th of September, 2017 the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) joins human rights stakeholders all over the world to celebrate the 10th anniversary of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

On 13th September 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which is the most comprehensive international document on the recognition and protection of rights of indigenous peoples globally. It provides a framework for governments and societies all over the world to ensure respect, protection and promotion of human rights of indigenous peoples as well as ensuring equality and equity in the enjoyment of the rights promulgated in the international and regional human rights instruments

This year, the world is commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the UNDRIP. The United Nations as well as governments all over the world are required to undertake an assessment of the milestones achieved in recognizing, promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples as well as challenges experienced in implementing the declaration.

Over the last decade, there have been challenges regarding the formal recognition of indigenous peoples and implementation of related policies on the ground by governments around the world including Tanzania. As a result, indigenous peoples continue to face exclusion and marginalization as far as the enjoyment of their basic rights is concerned.

Position of the Tanzania government on recognition of the indigenous peoples’ rights   

Tanzania is among the 144 states which voted in favour of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) on 13th September 2007. The declaration calls for “affirmative and concerted measures to address the disadvantaged conditions of indigenous peoples in accordance with the human rights principles elaborated upon this instrument”.

Despite the fact that Tanzania voted in favour of the Declaration, it does not recognize the existence of “indigenous peoples” in the country on the grounds that “All Tanzanians of African origin are indigenous” to this country. There are communities in Tanzania, namely Hadzabe and Akiye, who are hunter gatherers, and Barbaig or Datoga and Maasai who are pastoralists, which meet the UN criteria of indigenous peoples, and the government acknowledges their existence. These groups are considered to be indigenous communities by the African Commission on Human and Peoples (ACHPR).

In Tanzania, there is no specific national policy or legislation for the recognition and existence of indigenous peoples as well as implementation of their rights as enshrined in the UNDRIP.

However, the government of the United Republic of Tanzania ratified and reports on the International Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and the United Nations Frame Work Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At national level, the government has formulated the Draft TASAF III Indigenous Peoples Policy Framework (IPPF) which recognizes the existence of indigenous peoples as well as implementation of project on Reduction Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

In other words, the government indirectly recognizes the existence and marginalization of these communities.

Challenges experienced by indigenous peoples in Tanzania

Since the adoption of the UNDRIP 10 years ago, indigenous peoples in Tanzania have continued to face the following challenges:

• Absence of legislation recognizing the indigenous peoples in Tanzania.

• Lack of representation in decision-making bodies at all levels.

• Poor provision of social services such as access to clean and safe water, poor provision of health services and education facilities in indigenous people’s areas.

• Poor infrastructure such as roads, grazing land, communication systems, hunting and gathering areas.

• Lack of effective implementation of strategies that aim to mitigate the effect of climate change in areas of habitual residence for indigenous communities.

• Lack of recognition of their traditional lands, and

• Land alienation as a result of economic activities.

Therefore, the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance recommends that the government:

• Enact a specific law recognizing indigenous peoples and their rights as enshrined in regional and international human rights instruments.

• Ratifies the ILO Convention No. 169 and domesticate its provisions.

• Ensures an equitable sharing of resources such as land and other natural resources found in the indigenous community’s areas.

• Involves indigenous peoples in planning and decision making on issues that affect their lives.

• Holds consultation with indigenous communities whenever implementing development projects so as to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent.

Issued by:

(SIGNED)

Bahame Tom Nyanduga

Chairman

COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

September 13, 2017

-	Tume ya Haki za Binadamu na Utawala Bora Kitalu Na. 8, Mtaa wa Luthuli S.L.P 2643, DAR ES SALAAM Simu: +255 22 2135747/8; 2137125; 2135222 Faksi: +255 22 2111281 B/Pepe: chragg@chragg.go.tz Tovuti: www.chragg.go.tz

Septemba 13, 2017

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI

Tamko la THBUB wakati wa maadhimisho ya miaka 10 ya Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili, Septemba 13, 2017

Leo Septemba 13, 2017 Tume ya Haki za Binadamu na Utawala Bora (THBUB) inaungana na wadau wa haki za binadamu ulimwenguni kote kuadhimisha miaka 10 ya Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili.

Septemba 13, 2007 Baraza Kuu la Umoja wa Mataifa lilipitisha Azimio kuhusu haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili ambalo linaainisha mambo mengi kuhusu haki hizo. Azimio hili linatoa mwongozo kwa Serikali na jamii duniani kote kuhakikisha kuwa zinaheshimu, zinalinda na kukuza haki za binadamu za watu wanaoishi maisha asilia, kama zilivyoainishwa katika mikataba ya kikanda na kimataifa.

Mwaka huu tarehe ya leo dunia inaadhimisha kumbukumbu ya miaka 10 ya Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili. Umoja wa Mataifa, pamoja na Serikali duniani kote zinatakiwa kufanya tathmini ya mafanikio yaliyofikiwa katika kutambua, kukuza, na kulinda haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili, pia changamoto walizokumbana nazo katika utekelezaji wa Azimio hilo.

Ndani ya muongo mmoja uliopita kumekuwepo na changamoto ya kutambuliwa rasmi kwa haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili na utekelezaji wa sera zilizopo na Serikali duniani kote ikiwemo Tanzania. Hivyo, haki za msingi za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili zimeendelea kutotambuliwa na jamii.

Msimamo wa Serikali ya Tanzania katika kutambua haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili

Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ni miongoni mwa mataifa 144 ambayo yalipiga kura kuunga mkono Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili. Azimio hili linazitaka nchi wanachama “kukubali na kuchukua hatua za pamoja za kushughulikia hali duni za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili kulingana na misingi ya haki za binadamu iliyoko ndani ya Azimio hili.”

Licha ya ukweli kuwa Tanzania iliunga mkono Azimio hili, haitambui uwepo wa watu “wanaoishi maisha ya asili” hapa nchini kwa sababu inaamini kuwa “Watanzania wote wenye asili ya kiafrika ni watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili.” Hapa nchini kuna jamii za Wahadzabe na Akiye, ambao ni wawindaji na wakusanya matunda, na Barbaig au Datoga na Wamasai ambao ni wafugaji, ambapo wanakidhi vigezo vya Umoja wa Mataifa vya kutambulika kama watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili na Serikali inafahamu uwepo wao. Tume ya Afrika ya Haki za Binadamu na Watu imetambua makundi haya ya jamii ya watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili.

Nchini Tanzania hakuna sera maalumu ya taifa au sheria inayotambua uwepo wa watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili, wala utekelezaji wa Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu haki za watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili.

Hata hivyo, Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania imeridhia Mkataba wa Kimataifa kuhusu Bioanuai na mfumo wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu mabadiliko ya tabia  nchi. Katika ngazi ya kitaifa, Serikali imeandaa Rasimu ya Programu ya TASAF awamu ya tatu kuhusu Mfumo wa Sera ya watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili na inatekeleza mradi wa upunguzaji na uondoaji wa hewa chafu kutokana na ukataji miti na utowekaji wa misitu.

Kwa maneno mengine Serikali inatambua, japo siyo moja kwa moja, uwepo wa jamii hizi.

Changamoto zinazowakabili watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili nchini Tanzania

Pamoja na kupitishwa kwa Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili miaka 10 iliyopita, watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili nchini Tanzania wameendelea kukabiliwa na changamoto zifuatazo:

• Kutokuwepo kwa sheria maalumu inayowatambua,

• Ukosefu wa uwakilishi katika vyombo vya maamuzi katika ngazi zote,

• Huduma duni za jamii, kama vile kutopatikana kwa maji safi na salama, huduma za afya, na vifaa vya elimu katika maeneo wanayoishi,

• Miundombinu duni kama vile barabara, maeneo ya malisho, mfumo wa mawasiliano, maeneo ya uwindaji na ukusanyaji matunda,

• Ukosefu wa utekelezaji bora wa mikakati inayolenga kupunguza madhara ya mabadiliko ya tabia nchi katika maeneo ya makazi yao,

• Ukosefu wa malisho na uvamizi wa ardhi za makazi yao ya asili kwa shughuli za kiuchumi.

Hivyo, Tume ya Haki za Binadamu na Utawala Bora inapendekeza mambo yafuatayo kwa Serikali:

• Itunge sheria maalumu inayowatambua watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili na haki zao kama zilivyoainishwa katika mikataba ya kikanda na ya kimataifa ya haki za binadamu.

• Iridhie Mkataba Na. 169 wa Shirika la Kazi la Umoja wa Mataifa (ILO) na iingize vifungu vyake katika sheria za nchi.
• Ihakikishe uwepo wa mgawanyo sawa wa rasilimali kama vile ardhi na rasilimali nyingine za asili zinazopatikana katika maeneo ya jamii ya watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili.

• Iwashirikishe watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili katika upangaji na utekelezaji wa maamuzi juu ya masuala yanayoathiri maisha yao.

• Ifanye mashauriano na jamii ya watu wanaoishi maisha ya asili wakati wa upangaji na utekelezaji wa miradi ya maendeleo ili kupata ridhaa yao kabla ya utekelezaji wa miradi hiyo na wakiwa na taarifa za kutosha.

Imetolewa na:

(SIGNED)

Bahame Tom Nyanduga

Mwenyekiti

TUME YA HAKI ZA BINADAMU NA UTAWALA BORA

Septemba 13, 2017