Key Recommendations

To President Kikwete

• Publicly call for an end to police abuse, discrimination in the health care sector, and all other forms of discrimination against sex workers, people who use drugs, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.

To the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania

• Establish an independent civilian policing oversight authority mandated to receive complaints regarding police misconduct, carry out investigations, and refer such complaints to prosecutors.

To the Parliaments of Tanzania and Zanzibar

• Begin decriminalizing consensual sexual activity between adults, including same-sex conduct and consensual adult sex work. Also review laws on personal drug consumption and possession in order to ensure they are consistent with public health and human rights imperatives.  

To the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Tanzania, Ministry of Health of Zanzibar, and all Government Institutions Working on HIV/AIDS

• Issue orders to health workers that discrimination against members of marginalized groups will not be tolerated, and conduct trainings and inspections to ensure this order is followed.

To the Tanzania Police and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

• Issue orders to all police that no crime victim should be denied assistance, arrested, or harassed on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or their status as a sex worker or drug user. Publicly announce that members of at-risk populations can report crimes without facing the risk of arrest, and establish police liaisons to these communities. 

To Donor Governments and Institutions Supporting HIV/AIDS Programs or Human Rights Programs in Tanzania

• Support the development of membership organizations among sex workers, LGBTI people, and people who use drugs, such that these persons can have collective institutional voices.
• Ensure that funding directed to HIV/AIDS in Tanzania includes funds specifically aimed at key populations’ health needs.