Tanzania LAWA Fellow 2000-2001 L.L.B., University of Dar es Salaam L.L.M., Georgetown University Law Center Head of Legal and Outreach Department Women's Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) P.O. Box 79212 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Work Phone: 255-22-2183769 Email: wlac@raha.com

Affiliations: WLAC Women in Law and Development International

Profile:

As the head of the Legal Aid and Outreach Department of Women’s Legal Aid Center (WLAC) in Tanzania, Ms. Magigita coordinates the bi-weekly clinic that provides legal services to poor Tanzanian women on a variety of issues and the paralegal program that trains people to offer basic legal advice and raise awareness in rural parts of Tanzania, where the majority of women live. She is currently securing funding and doing background research for WLAC’s upcoming Women’s Land Rights Campaign that will focus on educating all women about their rights under the Land Act of 1999.

LAWA Experience:

Ms. Magigita’s graduate thesis, “Implementation of Affirmative Action in Tanzania Parliament: an Assessment of the Reserved Seats for Women,” examined the efficacy of mandatory goals and quotas in achieving equal political representation for women. For her fellowship internship, Ms. Magigita worked at the International Human Rights Law Group (IHRLG).

Other Work Experience:

Prior to LAWA, Ms. Magigita worked as an internee at the Ministry of Justice and Constitution Affairs, as well as volunteered with the Legal & Human Rights Center. She began work at the Women’s Legal Aid Center in 1996, and worked her way up to co-head of the outreach department by 2000, at which time she increased the program to include nine paralegal units specializing in advocacy of women’s and children’s rights.

Ms. Magigita was also involved in a number of coalitions that have led to two major law reforms in Tanzania: the Sexual Offences Act of 1998, which created stricter punishments for sexual offenses against women and children, and the Land Act of 1999, which guaranteed equal land ownership rights for men and women.

Following the fellowship, Ms. Magigita resumed her work with WLAC. In 2002, became a qualified facilitator for Women, Law and Development International (WLDI).