The Executive Director of LSF, Ms. Lulu Ng'wanakilala, and her team held a strategic meeting with Ms. Katherine Gifford, the Deputy Representative of UN Women. The discussions aimed to foster collaboration between the two organizations to promote gender equality and enhance access to justice, particularly for women, girls, and vulnerable groups across Tanzania.
The meeting focused on aligning the priorities of LSF and UN Women to address systemic barriers to justice that disproportionately affect women and marginalized communities. Both parties underscored the importance of strengthening the legal aid ecosystem by enhancing the capacity of paralegals, raising awareness on legal rights, and ensuring the sustainability of legal aid services nationwide.
Ms. Gifford commended LSF’s efforts in advocating for the rights of women and girls, particularly through its leadership in implementing the National Legal Aid Campaign initiated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. She emphasized the shared vision of both organizations in creating a more just and inclusive society where gender equality is realized at all levels.
Discussions also included exploring joint initiatives to combat gender-based violence (GBV), enhance economic empowerment for women through legal support, and promote policy reforms that safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups. Key potential areas of collaboration highlighted during the meeting include:
1. Capacity-building programs for paralegals and community justice facilitators.
2. Advocacy campaigns targeting the eradication of gender-based violence.
3. Joint research and documentation of success stories to inform evidence-based policymaking.
4. Public outreach to increase awareness of legal rights among women and girls.
Ms. Ng'wanakilala reaffirmed LSF’s commitment to working closely with UN Women to advance the shared goals of justice and equality. She highlighted that such partnerships are instrumental in achieving long-lasting impact and ensuring that legal and social systems are accessible to all.
The meeting concluded with both parties to expressed optimism that this strengthened partnership will create transformative outcomes for gender equality and access to justice.
