Tanzania is continuing preparations for its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is expected to take place in Geneva between October and November this year.

As part of these preparations, the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) convened a meeting in Dar es Salaam bringing together civil society organisations, representatives of UN member states, and development partners to discuss the country's current human rights situation and identify key issues that should be raised during the review.

According to THRDC National Coordinator Advocate Onesmo Olengurumwa, the objective is to ensure that UN member states receive accurate and up-to-date information so they can ask informed questions and provide practical recommendations.He noted that Tanzania accepted 108 recommendations during the previous UPR cycle, but implementation has remained limited.

More than half of those recommendations have not been fully implemented, many have only seen partial progress, and fewer than ten percent have been completed in full.

THRDC believes the UPR process remains an important accountability mechanism because it requires governments to report on progress made since the previous review.

The coalition also highlighted the increased involvement of civil society in this year's preparations, with more than 300 organisations jointly preparing and submitting a comprehensive human rights report to the United Nations.

Representatives working on children's rights, women's rights, environmental protection, pastoralist communities, and freedom of expression participated in the discussions.

THRDC expressed hope that Tanzania will accept more recommendations during this review cycle and translate them into concrete reforms that strengthen the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms across the country.