Tanzania will present its human rights record at the United Nations in Geneva today, November 5, 2026, outlining reforms and measures taken to improve access to justice, strengthen the rule of law and protect citizens' rights over the past five years.
The presentation comes amid the country's fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a United Nations Human Rights Council process that assesses the human rights records of all member states and provides an opportunity for governments to account for progress, challenges and outstanding commitments.
Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs Abdallah Ulega said Tanzania would use the review to demonstrate progress in implementing recommendations from previous assessments and outline areas where further improvements were needed.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva ahead of the exercise, Mr Ulega said the government remained committed to strengthening good governance, the rule of law and human rights protection under President Samia Suluhu Hassan's leadership.
He said the administration's Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding (4Rs) philosophy continued to guide efforts to improve governance and strengthen institutions.
The review provides an opportunity for Tanzania to explain not only the reforms it has undertaken but also how its policies and interventions have contributed to citizens' access to essential services and opportunities.
Tanzania's previous review, conducted in 2021, resulted in 252 recommendations from other UN member states. The country accepted 187, including 20 partially accepted recommendations, while 65 were not accepted.
The fourth review will therefore provide an opportunity to account for progress made against those commitments and demonstrate how recommendations have informed government policies and interventions.
Since the 2021 assessment, the government has undertaken initiatives in several areas affecting citizens' daily lives, including access to justice, healthcare, education, clean water and infrastructure development.
These areas are central to human rights protection because access to essential services, equal opportunities and effective legal institutions directly influence people's welfare and ability to exercise their rights.
Preparation of the fourth national report involved both the Union Government and the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government, with contributions from ministries, government departments and institutions, the Judiciary, civil society organisations, religious institutions, organisations representing persons with disabilities and other human rights stakeholders.
The report covers the period from 2021/22 to 2026 and outlines achievements, policy reforms and measures undertaken to strengthen the country's human rights protection framework.
Tanzania's participation also comes as the country pursues its National Development Vision 2050, which seeks to build a prosperous, just, inclusive and self-reliant nation.
The vision places human dignity, equal opportunities and citizens' welfare at the centre of national development, reinforcing the link between human rights protection, access to public services and sustainable economic growth.
The UPR is a peer-review mechanism through which all UN member states have their human rights records assessed under the same process.
Countries present their progress and challenges, while other states make recommendations on areas requiring further action.
Tanzania's fourth review is being conducted during the 53rd session of the UPR Working Group, taking place in Geneva from November 2 to 13, 2026.
The outcome will provide a basis for further engagement between Tanzania and the international community on human rights commitments, reforms and areas requiring continued attention.