TOURIST AND INVESTORS FLOCKS ARUSHA REGION AND IGNORES THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION TOWARDS WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS, LIKE FGM AND EARLY MARRIAGES .

Arusha, christened the Switzerland of Africa, has in recent days been a centre of political tension and not to mention of the several human rights violations against women.
The northern Tanzania region of Arusha occupies third place in the country in terms of the vice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) after Dodoma and Manyara.
Apart from the outdated tradition, so-called investors are clamouring for Arusha’s fertile land wanting to put up their investment projects.
The booming tourism industry has made the town one of the most potential investment destinations in the country, a situation that could be partly to blame for the land-grab phenomenon.
In the same rich Arusha region, there are poor people who have failed to convert their land into wealth. Perhaps one of the most notable achievements would be to see more people become aware of their rights, a task which is being done by the Arusha Legal Aid Clinic.
This clinic has managed to provide legal services to 2,822 clients, surpasssing its goal of serving 2300 clients per year.
As of October 32, the clinic won 31 cases and the number of clients could even jump by the end of the year.
Furthermore, the clinic has managed to reconcile 27 out of the 38 matters brought before it while 114 clients have been educated to represent their cases in court.
Apart from the provision of legal aid, the clinic has been making a follow-up on human rights violations in the area and this year alone, has managed to follow up on seven issues, including the Mererani saga where teenage girls were forced into early marriages.
The problem of early marriages is common in Arusha, and it is not surprising for a teacher on leave to come back find that half of the schoolgirls have absconded schooling.
Rose Mwapinga, a former teacher and District Education Officer admits that there were times when a teacher would make a roll-call in class only to be told that so and so “ameolewa”(the girl pupil has been married off).

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Ambassador Lucy Mashua
Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights
Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM
Lobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,
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