Child Rights Promotion

ADVOCATING AGAINST DEATH PENALTY TO MOTHERS AND PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN

Article 30(e) of the 1990 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to which Tanzania is party prohibits the passing of a death sentence on ‘mothers of infants and young children. Article 4(2)(j) of the 2003 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa forbids the execution of ‘nursing women.  The UN Human Rights Committee’s General Comment No. 36 on the right to life obliges States (Tanzania) to refrain from executing parents of very young or dependent children.

Tanzania maintains death penalty under her Penal Code (Cap 16, R.E 2002) and Courts continue passing death sentences to parents, child primary caregivers including mothers of infants and young children contrary with the above child rights international laws.

The Children Education Society (CHESO) is empowering members of the Tanzania Coalition against death penalty to demand amendment of the Tanzania Penal Code (Cap 16, R.E 2002) to exempt parents, child primary caregivers including mothers of infants and young children from being sentenced to death and jointly advocate for total abolition of death penalty in Tanzania.

Children of a Parent facing death penalty in Tanzania exhibit greater mental distress, lose interest to study and potentially drop from schools than children of ordinary prisoners.

CHESO provides pyscho-social support and education needs aid to children of a parent or primary care giver facing death penalty in Tanzania and  are at risk to drop or have dropped from schools.