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U.S. Ambassador presents Certificate to Tanzania’s nominee for International Women of Courage

November 7, 2007

U.S. Ambassador Mark Green today presented a certificate to Hellen Kijo-Bisimba who has been selected as Tanzania’s nominee for the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2008 Award for International Women of Courage. The nominee is currently the Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre.

According to a statement from the embassy, the U.S. Secretary’s Award for International Women of Courage will go to eight women from throughout the world who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and advancement. Only one awardee will be selected from the 15 African women who were nominated.

A lawyer by profession, Kijo-Bisimba headed the formation of 17 paralegal units for women in 18 regions of mainland Tanzania and personally participated in ensuring the enactment of the renowned Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, which provided special provisions for offences that oppressed women and children. This legislation is regularly used in courts of law to provide harsh sentences to offenders.

Kijo-Bisimba also worked to ensure that the Anti Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) legislation was enacted by Parliament, and later on, through the Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC) she continued to be a strong advocate against FGM, even arranging at times for the prosecution of parents who allow their daughters to be circumcised.

She has also been involved in the campaign to increase the participation of women in governance from 10 percent to 30 percent, and at the moment, is working with other stake holders to see women hold 50 percent of leadership and decision making positions in the government.

When she began her human rights career, she joined the SUWATA Legal Aid, a clinic that provides free legal aid to women who cannot afford legal services. When the clinic closed, Kijo-Bisimba co-founded the current independent Women’s Legal Aid Center so that almost 5000 women would not lose free legal aid. This center currently caters to over 30,000 women in Dar es Salaam.

Kijo-Bisimba also spearheaded a court application in September 2005 that challenged the constitutionality of Sections 98 (2) and 98 (3) of the Elections Act of 1985 which allowed election candidates to influence voters by offering “takrima” or hospitality to voters and/or supporters. After Kijo-Bisimba filed the application through the LHRC, and with the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) and the National Organization for Legal Assistance (NOLA) as the second and third petitioners, three High Court Judges ordered the “takrima” provisions struck off the National Elections Act in April 2006, deeming them unconstitutional.