VISION
A just society that respects women and children rights
MISSION
WLAC is an NG’O established to promote access to justice and advocate for gender responsive policies for women and children
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- To provide legal aid services to indigent women and children in Tanzania
- To facilitate community capacity building on women and children’s legal and human rights
- To undertake analysis of policies and laws and influence favourable changes for protection of women and children rights
- To undertake research with a view to informing advocacy initiatives
- To facilitate establishment and strengthening of community organization for advancement of legal awareness and education
- To develop and strengthen pro-women and children rights collaboration and partnerships with different actors locally, regionally and internationally
- Prepare and air radio and TV programs, liase with the print media on issues related to gender equality and women and children's rights
- Prepare and publish different reading materials related to women and children's rights
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE PROVISION OF LEGAL AID SERVICES TO WOMEN
In fact, idea of establishing SUWATA in 1989, Legal Aid Scheme for women was the brainchild of the late Sophia Kawawa, who was by then the Chairperson of the Tanzania Women Union (Umoja wa Wanawake Tanzania).
As chairperson of the association, she received numerous legal-related complaints from women. However, as a politician, Sophia Kawawa could not handle the cases. She sought assistance of women lawyers in assisting these women. Women lawyers accepted the call, and started assisting the women, on regular basis, at SUWATA building. Initially, lawyers came to provide legal assistance at the scheme on part-time basis, as most of them were employed elsewhere.
Because of lack of permanent legal officers at the scheme, clients (women) were required to repeatedly narrate their problems to each new part-time legal officer.
This weakness forced the scheme to have a full-time volunteer advocate to assist the women. The volunteer ensured smooth delivery of services until re-introduction of multi-part political system in the country.
The scheme was established when the country was still under one-party system. It was set up under the auspice of Women Economic Wing of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
However, after the introduction of multi-party system, there were suspicion and fears that the scheme could only serve women who are subservient to the ruling party and discriminate other women, thus hinders smooth running of the scheme.
Because of these fears, the scheme was registered in 1994 as Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), as an inclusive NGO that would serve all women regardless of their political affiliation. The organization took over services previously done by SUWATA Legal Aid Scheme for Women.
The WLAC Memorandum and Articles of Association guide the management of the organization. It establishes the structure of the organization governance. The Annual General Meeting of the members is the supreme organ, followed by the Board which is a policy maker of the organization. WLAC’s activities are executed by its secretariat which is headed by the Executive Director under which there are four different departments jointly implementing the activities of the Centre. WLAC was accommodated by Umoja wa Wanawake Tanzania (UWT) at the SUWATA building, Kariakoo area until 2008, when it shifted its major operations to the new and own building at Kinondoni-Hananasif area. However, WLAC retained three offices at SUWATA building for providing legal aid to women from Ilala and Temeke Districts. |
