Women's Legal Aid Centre

The Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit making organization, registered in 1994 as a Company Limited by guarantee without shareholders under the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 212 of Tanzania. WLAC ‘s Secretariat has 17 full-time staff working in four inter-connected departments. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall programme implementation, supervision and reports to the Board of Directors.

WLAC'S VISION: To contribute in having a just and equitable society that observes and respects Women's and Children’s rights.

WLAC’S MISSION: The WLAC is a human rights organization, striving to promote and protect women and children’s rights by helping to bring about gender equality in Tanzania through legal aid, legal research, networking, publications and outreach programmes.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• To carry on the activities of the Legal Aid Clinic; to give advice and counseling services, to undertake court representation, drafting of legal documents and other related services;
• To conduct seminars, workshops, camps and conferences, undertake study tours and exchange visits, especially between Tanzania and other countries;
• To build a network jointly with other NGOs, government departments and agencies that have similar activities with that of the WLAC;
• To lobby for change of discriminatory policies and laws, advocate for equitable change in gender relations in Tanzania and sensitize the general public on women’s and children’s human rights;
• To encourage and support poor women in establishing self-help groups and to offer legal education on how to organize business under the Law of Tanzania;
• To prepare and publish different reading materials related to women and children’s rights;
• To prepare radio programmes and to liaise with electronics and print media on issues related to women’s and children’s rights for purposes of offering gender and legal education;
• To research on laws affecting women and children with the aim of using the findings as a basis for lobbying and advocating for change.