Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Abstract #293
The Challenges to Children’s Rights in the Mtaa Mediation Committee System in Tanzania: A Case of Ilala Municipality, Dar es salaam Region, Tanzania
Presenter: Angela Daniel Ifunya  
Abstract:
This is based on the research conducted in Kombo Mtaa Mediation Committee, Ilala Municipality, Dar es salaam region, Tanzania.In many rural and poor urban areas of the world, people do not have access to state-administered justice and security institutions, or choose not to use them. In Tanzania, most of the disputes are resolved by grassroots institutions at the mtaa and ward level in the case of urban local governance authorities. The study aimed to better understand mtaa mediation committee system, provide knowledge about it, assess the problems and be able to recommend reform initiatives.I conducted in-depth individual interviews, observations and focus group discussions with 10 children aged 11-17 years old and 16 adults: mtaa mediators, parents, ward tribunal officials, community leaders and government officials. The findings reveals: lack of protection of children against family violence in a situation where the perpetrator is breadwinner; lack of proper involvement of children in cases determination; too much focussed on punishment including corporal punishment instead of rehabilitation; lack of protection in procedures when children put behind bars; lack of recording of proceedings and decisions; lack of adequate knowledge about rights of children to mtaa mediators.